Labor Department Issues Third Report on Child Labor in
Trade Beneficiary Countries

Report Specified Under the Trade and Development Act

WASHINGTON—The Labor Department today released its third annual report on the worst forms of child labor in 144 countries and territories that receive U.S. trade benefits.

“The United States believes that all people can benefit from the enormous opportunities created by free trade,” said Arnold Levine, deputy under secretary for international labor affairs for the U.S. Department of Labor, in announcing the report. “Yet a free market can only operate efficiently when it is supported by protections for workers, including protections from the worst forms of child labor.”

The department’s Bureau of International Labor Affairs prepared The Department of Labor’s 2003 Findings on the Worst Forms of Child Labor in response to a child labor reporting requirement under the Trade and Development Act of 2000. Under the act, trade beneficiary countries and territories are required to implement their international commitments to eliminate the worst forms of child labor. As defined by International Labor Organization Convention 182, the worst forms of child labor include any form of slavery, such as forced or indentured child labor; the trafficking of children and the forced recruitment of children for use in armed conflict; child prostitution and pornography; and work that is likely to harm the health, safety or morals of children. The report presents information on the nature and extent of the problem in each of these 144 countries and territories and the efforts being made by their governments to eliminate the worst forms of child labor.

The bureau’s International Child Labor Program collected data from a wide variety of sources, including U.S. embassies and consulates, foreign governments, nongovernmental organizations, and international agencies. In addition, bureau staff conducted field visits to certain countries covered in the report.

The report is available at www.dol.gov/ILAB/media/reports/iclp/main.htm. Beginning July 30, 2004, printed copies of the report will be available from the International Child Labor Program, Bureau of International Labor Affairs, U.S. Department of Labor, Room S-5307, 200 Constitution Ave., N.W., Washington, D.C. 20210. Telephone: (202) 693-4843; Fax (202) 693-4830; E-mail: GlobalKids@dol.gov.

ILAB conducts research on and formulates international economic, trade, immigration and labor policies and provides international technical assistance in support of U.S. foreign labor policy objectives.

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Archived News Release — Caution: Information may be out of date.