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Labor Dept Seeks Info on Business Efforts to Reduce Likelihood of Child, Forced Labor

The Labor Department’s Bureau of International Labor Affairs is seeking information by June 14, 2010 on the actions that firms, business associations, and other private sector groups are taking to reduce the likelihood of child labor and forced labor in the production of goods.

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Standard Set of Practices to Reduce Likelihood of Child or Forced Labor Sought

This information will aid ILAB in fulfilling its mandate under the Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of 2005 (Public Law 109-164) to work with persons who are involved in the production of goods made with forced labor or child labor to create a standard set of practices that will reduce the likelihood that such persons will produce goods using such labor.

Information Sought on Business and Government Practices

ILAB is seeking information on:

Business practices - the practices of business entities to reduce the likelihood of child labor and forced labor in the production of goods.

ILAB states that it welcomes any and all information, which could include, e.g., codes of conduct, standards used to implement such codes of conduct, auditing/monitoring systems, supply-chain management practices designed to monitor informal workplaces, homework, and other challenging work environments, training modules, reporting practices, collaborative practices and strategies, grassroots projects, or other relevant information.

Government practices - government practices to collaborate with private sector entities to reduce child labor and forced labor in the production of goods.

Submissions may include documents in various formats, such as policy statements, reports, and case studies. However, the specific format of any submission is not important provided that the document presents and/or evaluates practices implemented by business entities, or governments in partnership with business entities, to reduce the likelihood of child labor and forced labor in the production of goods.

(See notice for definitions of child labor and forced labor.)

(See ITT’s Online Archives or 02/24/10 news, (Ref: 10022420), for BP summary of ILAB’s request for information on child and forced labor in foreign countries.)

- Information due by 06/14/10

ILAB notice (FR Pub 04/15/10) available at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2010/pdf/2010-8642.pdf