CLC Calls on Federal Government to Increase Funding to Combat Exploitative Child Labor

May 31, 2006
CLC calls on Federal Government to Increase Funding to Combat
Exploitative Child Labor

Washington, DC – Responding to the recently released International Labor Organization (ILO) global report on child labor, the Child Labor Coalition (CLC) is urging the U.S. Government to increase U.S. funding of international efforts to combat exploitative child labor in FY 2007.

The ILO report, The End of Child Labor; Within Reach, states that after nearly two decades of work to educate the public, promote, and take action to stop exploitive child labor, an 11 percent decline has been measured by the ILO in the number of exploited child laborers throughout the world and a 26 percent decline in the number of children engaged in hazardous labor.[1] The ILO believes if the current pace of decline were to be maintained along with the global momentum to stop child labor, child labor could be eliminated, in most of its worst forms, in 10 years.

“Through significant international funding, governments and civil society have been empowered to tackle this pressing global problem. In this, the U.S. Government has played a leadership role,” says Darlene Adkins, CLC Coordinator. “Today, with a goal in sight, it is imperative that the U.S. Government remain committed to its funding of child labor projects.”

In FY 2006, the U.S. Government appropriated $61 million to the U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of International Affairs (ILAB) for international child labor technical assistance. In the proposed (pending approval) FY 2007 budget, no monies are allocated to ILAB for technical assistance, and only $12.3 million is earmarked for ILAB’s core salaries and expenses. If ILAB technical assistance funding is eliminated, it will have a catastrophic impact on the global progress that is being made to eradicate child labor.

The CLC believes that in order to eliminate hazardous child labor, governments, child rights/protection organizations, and civil society must work in concert to protect the 218 million children still engaged in child labor, and ensure that political will and financial commitment targeting the exploitation of children continues to grow.

In addition, there is a need to focus on universal primary education and poverty reduction. The CLC supports the tri-partite approach of child labor elimination; universal, free primary education for all children; and poverty reduction. The CLC believes it is critical to recognize and address these interdependent issues together in order to eliminate this tragic, historical cycle.
The CLC invites organizations and individuals working to address these issues to join its continuing and increasing efforts to stop exploitive child labor and the worst forms of child labor. For more information, please visit www.stopchildlabor.org and www.ilo.org.

[1]This study was undertaken using identical criteria to that which the ILO used four-years ago to determine that child labor abuses were adversely affecting 246 million children world-wide.

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The Child Labor Coalition is a group of more than 40 organizations, representing consumers, labor unions, educators, human rights and labor rights groups, child advocacy groups, and religious and women’s groups. It was established in 1989, and is co-chaired by the National Consumers League and the American Federation of Teachers. Its mission is to protect working youth and to promote legislation, programs, and initiatives to end child labor exploitation in the United States and abroad.

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Washington, DC – Responding to the recently released International Labor Organization (ILO) global report on child labor, the Child Labor Coalition (CLC) is urging the U.S. Government to increase U.S. funding of international efforts to combat exploitative child labor in FY 2007.

The ILO report, The End of Child Labor; Within Reach, states that after nearly two decades of work to educate the public, promote, and take action to stop exploitive child labor, an 11 percent decline has been measured by the ILO in the number of exploited child laborers throughout the world and a 26 percent decline in the number of children engaged in hazardous labor.[1] The ILO believes if the current pace of decline were to be maintained along with the global momentum to stop child labor, child labor could be eliminated, in most of its worst forms, in 10 years.

“Through significant international funding, governments and civil society have been empowered to tackle this pressing global problem. In this, the U.S. Government has played a leadership role,” says Darlene Adkins, CLC Coordinator. “Today, with a goal in sight, it is imperative that the U.S. Government remain committed to its funding of child labor projects.”

In FY 2006, the U.S. Government appropriated $61 million to the U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of International Affairs (ILAB) for international child labor technical assistance. In the proposed (pending approval) FY 2007 budget, no monies are allocated to ILAB for technical assistance, and only $12.3 million is earmarked for ILAB’s core salaries and expenses. If ILAB technical assistance funding is eliminated, it will have a catastrophic impact on the global progress that is being made to eradicate child labor.

The CLC believes that in order to eliminate hazardous child labor, governments, child rights/protection organizations, and civil society must work in concert to protect the 218 million children still engaged in child labor, and ensure that political will and financial commitment targeting the exploitation of children continues to grow.

In addition, there is a need to focus on universal primary education and poverty reduction. The CLC supports the tri-partite approach of child labor elimination; universal, free primary education for all children; and poverty reduction. The CLC believes it is critical to recognize and address these interdependent issues together in order to eliminate this tragic, historical cycle.

[1]This study was undertaken using identical criteria to that which the ILO used four-years ago to determine that child labor abuses were adversely affecting 246 million children world-wide.