[PDF Version]

=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Office of the Secretary

 
Bureau of International Labor Affairs; Public Submissions of 
Information

    This document is a notice for public submissions for the purpose of 
gathering information regarding a study being conducted by the 
Department of Labor on the minimum wage, prevailing wage, and non-wage 
benefits in the apparel and footwear industries, and the established 
poverty levels, in countries that are major suppliers of apparel and/or 
footwear to the U.S. market. The Department of Labor is now accepting 
written information on this subject matter from all interested parties. 
The Department is not able to provide financial assistance to those 
preparing written submissions.
    For the purposes of the study, the Department of Labor will 
consider the apparel and/or footwear industries in 35

[[Page 35183]]

foreign countries that are major suppliers of footwear and/or apparel 
to the U.S. market. The 35 major apparel and/or footwear exporting 
countries or entities are: Bangladesh, Brazil, Cambodia, Canada, China, 
Colombia, Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, Egypt, El Salvador, 
Guatemala, Honduras, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Israel, Italy, 
Jamaica, Macau, Malaysia, Mauritius, Mexico, Nicaragua, Pakistan, Peru, 
the Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Spain, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, 
Thailand, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, and the United Kingdom.
    In particular, the Department's Bureau of International Labor 
Affairs is seeking written submissions and supporting documents 
providing factual information on the countries enumerated above with 
respect to the following topics:
    1. Current minimum wage, if any, and the prevailing wage in the 
apparel and footwear industries and the average for all manufacturing.
    2. Mandated non-wage benefits or tax credits for workers in the 
apparel and footwear industries.
    3. Measures and methods, such as a market basket of goods, used to 
determine the basic needs of workers and to establish the poverty 
level.
    4. Methods to measure the purchasing power of wages and benefits 
and to assess how well the wage/benefit packages meet the basic needs 
of workers in the apparel and footwear industries.
    This notice is a general solicitation of comments from the public. 
Information provided through public submissions will be considered by 
the Department of Labor in preparing its report.

DATES: Respondents will be required to provide one (1) copy of their 
written submission and attachments to the Office of International 
Economic Affairs by 5:00 p.m., Friday, July 30, 1999.

ADDRESSES: Written submissions and attachments should be addressed to 
the Office of International Economic Affairs, Bureau of International 
Labor Affairs, Room S-5325, U.S. Department of Labor, Washington, D.C. 
20210, fax: (202) 219-5071.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jorge F. Perez-Lopez, Office of 
International Economic Affairs, Bureau of International Labor Affairs, 
Room S-5325, U.S. Department of Labor, Washington, D.C. 20210, 
telephone: (202) 219-7597 ext. 145; fax (202) 219-5071.
    All written materials and attachments submitted pursuant to this 
request will be made part of the record of review referred to above and 
will be available for public inspection.

    Signed at Washington, D.C. this 21st day of June 1999.
Andrew J. Samet,
Deputy Under Secretary for International Labor Affairs.
[FR Doc. 99-16639 Filed 6-29-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-28-U