# Presentation: 603058

##  
Combating Exploitive Child Labor

Bidders Meeting

U.S. Department of Labor
Bureau of International Labor Affairs
Office of Child Labor, Forced Labor and Human Trafficking (OCFT)
April 24, 2008

- Combating Exploitive Child Labor
- Bidders Meeting
- U.S. Department of Labor
- Bureau of International Labor Affairs
- Office of Child Labor, Forced Labor and Human Trafficking (OCFT)
- April 24, 2008

-     Education...          ... an opportunity every child deserves

## What is the Magnitude of the Problem?

**The ILO estimates that there were ****191 million**** children 5-14 years working in 2004.**

## USDOL’s Bureau of International Labor AffairsOrganizational Chart

- Office of the
- Deputy Under Secretary

- Office of
- Child Labor,
- Forced Labor
- and
- Human
- Trafficking
- (OCFT)

- Office of
- International
- Relations
- (OIR)

- Office of Trade and
-  Labor Affairs
- (OTLA)

##                       OCFT

*	**Addressing the Worst Forms of Child Labor, Forced Labor, and Human Trafficking*

## Brief History of USDOL-OCFT

**1993:**   Congress requests that DOL conduct research and report on child labor around the world.
**1995:**  ILAB begins funding technical cooperation projects through the International Labor Organization’s International Program on the Elimination of Child Labor (ILO-IPEC).
**2001:** ILAB launches its Child Labor Education Initiative (EI)—promoting educational alternatives to child labor.

**Notes:**
1.  ILAB’s efforts to address international labor issues began in 1993, as a result of increased concern in Congress and increased awareness among the American people about global child labor.

## Brief History of USDOL-OCFT

**2005:** ILAB receives new mandate under the TVPRA 2005 to monitor and report on forced labor and child labor.
**2006:** ICLP is renamed the Office of Child Labor, Forced Labor, and Human Trafficking (_**OCFT**_).
- Through** 2008**, ILAB appropriations to combat child labor internationally total over $660 million.

**Notes:**
1.  ILAB’s efforts to address international labor issues began in 1993, as a result of increased concern in Congress and increased awareness among the American people about global child labor.

## OCFT Areas of Action

## At A Glance:A Decade of USDOL-funded Child Labor Technical Cooperation Projects  (1995-2007)

**At A Glance:****A Decade of USDOL-funded ****Child Labor Technical Cooperation Projects **** ****(1995-2007)**

**Domestic**
**2.6 million**
**7 projects**

**Notes:**
This is how that funding breaks down
More than 140 projects in 60 countries.
Global projects include awareness raising campaigns, research, and improving statistical standards on child labor. Other projects include inter-regional projects, such as the child soldiers project funded in FY 2003.
Region with highest numbers of working children is Asia
Region with highest rate of child labor is Africa.

## Who are our Customers? 

** ****Children** at-risk of or engaged in the WFCL.
-  **Parents **of these children who often rely on the income earned by their child.
-  **Organizations **overseas responsible for policy, law enforcement, and provision of services to combat child labor.

## What do our Customers need? 

_**Children and Families**_
-  Basic services and income
-    generating alternatives (IGA)
-  Access to schooling and
-    vocational training that is of high
-    quality and relevant to their lives
-  Accountable governments that
-    promote policies to protect
-    children and enforce child labor
-    and compulsory education laws
** **
_**Organizations **_
-  Increased capacity to address
-    child labor issues through
-    programs, policies and laws.

## The nature and extent of exploitive child labor in a country;

Are there critical gaps we can fill? 
In efforts to combat the WFCL,
To help children access quality education & training;

U.S. Government Foreign Policy Interests:  
Supporting the labor component of free trade   	agreements
Efforts to address human trafficking and forced labor;

- Are there critical gaps we can fill?
- In efforts to combat the WFCL,
- To help children access quality education & training;
- U.S. Government Foreign Policy Interests:
- Supporting the labor component of free trade   	agreements
- Efforts to address human trafficking and forced labor;

- Factors we consider in selecting target countries?

## Evidence of government commitment to eliminate WFCL

Ratification of relevant ILO Conventions,
National action plans for children, 
Stated government commitment to provide support efforts to combat the WFCL;  

Likelihood of sustainability.  

- Ratification of relevant ILO Conventions,
- National action plans for children,
- Stated government commitment to provide support efforts to combat the WFCL;
- Likelihood of sustainability.

- Factors we consider in selecting target countries?

## Steps in OCFT’sObligation of Child Labor Funds

- Meeting with Foreign Ambassadors;
- Exchange of Letters between governments;
- Notice of Intent in Federal Register;
- SGA published in Federal Register and Grants.gov;
- Review of proposals; and
- Awards by September 30th.

## Thank You!

**Thank You!**