In the News

Vilsack Names Members to Child and Forced Labor Consultative Group

US Department of Agriculture
09/23/2009

WASHINGTON, Sept. 23 2009-Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced that he has appointed 13 members to the Consultative Group to Eliminate the Use of Child Labor and Forced Labor in Imported Agricultural Products, which was established by the 2008 Farm Bill.

"Child and forced labor remain significant problems in many parts of the world," said Vilsack. "The expertise and unique knowledge provided by these members will be instrumental in our efforts to reduce the use of these forms of labor in agricultural industries benefiting from these practices."

State pressure causes decline in CBA-covered workers - labor group

The Philippine Star
09/17/2009

By Dennis Carcamo 

MANILA, Philippines -- The number of laborers covered by collective bargaining agreements (CBA) in the country has been reduced by more than half in the last five years, a labor organization disclosed today (Sept. 17).

In a statement, Alliance of Progressive Labor (APL) chairperson Daniel Edralin said this decline is attributed to the fact that some trade unions are considered by the military as enemies of the state, with prodding of some of anti-union employers.

High Hopes for ILO’s 1st High-Level Mission to the Philippines

Bulatlat
09/15/2009

By Marya Salamat

Manila – Filipino unionists and families of those who have been summarily killed, illegally jailed, harassed or abducted, welcomed the news that finally, investigators from the International Labor Organization (ILO) are coming over to look into their cases.

“We are glad that the first International Labor Organization-High-Level Mission to the Philippines is finally pushing through,” said the Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU-May First Movement). They have filed the complaint with the ILO three years ago.

U.S. lists countries exploiting child labour

CBC
09/11/2009

Children around the world are producing numerous goods being sold globally, says a report released by the U.S. Department of Labour.

The report released Thursday found that 218 million children work worldwide, and that 126 million of them perform dangerous jobs.

The U.S. Labour Department has identified 122 goods from 58 countries it believes to be produced by forced labour, child labour or a combination of the two. Children commonly work to produce products or crops such as:

4 natural rubber-producing countries use child labor, Labor Dept. says

Rubber and Plastics News
09/11/2009

Liberia, Burma, Cambodia and the Philippines use child labor in the production of natural rubber, according to a list compiled by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of International Labor Affairs.

Developed from procedural guidelines published in the Dec. 27, 2007, Federal Register, the ILAB list presents 122 agricultural or manufactured goods in 58 countries that it says are produced in violation of international standards against child labor and forced labor.

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