U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE

WASHINGTON : 

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69–118★ (STAR PRINT)

" ! SENATE 106th Congress

1st Session

TREATY DOC.

1999

106–5

CONVENTION (No. 182) FOR ELIMINATION OF THE

WORST FORMS OF CHILD LABOR

MESSAGE

FROM

THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES

TRANSMITTING

CONVENTION (No. 182) CONCERNING THE PROHIBITION AND IMMEDIATE ACTION FOR THE ELIMINATION OF THE WORST

FORMS OF CHILD LABOR, ADOPTED BY THE INTERNATIONAL

LABOR CONFERENCE AT ITS 87TH SESSION IN GENEVA ON

JUNE 17, 1999

AUGUST 5, 1999.—Convention was read the first time, and together with

the accompanying papers, referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations and ordered to be printed for the use of the Senate

(III)

LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL

THE WHITE HOUSE, August 5, 1999.

To the Senate of the United States:

With a view to receiving the advice and consent of the Senate to

ratification of the Convention (No. 182) Concerning the Prohibition

and Immediate Action for the Elimination of the Worst Forms of

Child Labor, adopted by the International Labor Conference at its

87th Session in Geneva on June 17, 1999, I transmit herewith a

certified copy of that Convention. I transmit also for the Senate’s

information a certified copy of a recommendation (No. 190) on the

same subject, adopted by the International Labor Conference on

the same date, which amplifies some of the Convention’s provisions. No action is called for on the recommendation.

The report of the Department of State, with a letter from the

Secretary of Labor, concerning the Convention is enclosed.

As explained more fully in the enclosed letter from the Secretary

of Labor, current United States law and practice satisfy the requirements of Convention No. 182. Ratification of this Convention,

therefore, should not require the United States to alter in any way

its law or practice in this field.

In the interest of clarifying the domestic application of the Convention, my Administration proposes that two understandings accompany U.S. ratification.

The proposed understandings are as follows:

The United States understands that Article 3(d) of Convention 182 does not encompass situations in which children are employed by a parent or by a person standing in

the place of a parent on a farm owned or operated by such

parent or person.

The United States understands that the term ‘‘basic education’’ in Article 7 of Convention 182 means primary education plus one year: eight or nine years of schooling based

on curriculum and not age.

These understandings would have no effect on our international

obligations under Convention No. 182.

Convention No. 182 represents a true breakthrough for the children of the world. Ratification of this instrument will enhance the

ability of the United States to provide global leadership in the effort to eliminate the worst forms of child labor. I recommend that

the Senate give its advice and consent to the ratification of ILO

Convention No. 182.

WILLIAM J. CLINTON.

THE WHITE HOUSE, August 5, 1999.

(V)

LETTER OF SUBMITTAL

DEPARTMENT OF STATE,

Washington, July 30, 1999.

The PRESIDENT,

The White House.

THE PRESIDENT: I have the honor to submit to you, with the recommendation that it be transmitted to the Senate for advice and

consent to ratification, a certified copy of the Convention (No. 182)

Concerning the Prohibition and Immediate Action for the Elimination of the Worst Forms of Child Labor, adopted by the International Labor Conference at its 87th Session in Geneva on June

17, 1999. A certified copy of a recommendation (No. 190) amplifying

some of the provisions of the convention is enclosed for the Senate’s

information.

In general, the Convention obligates ratifying countries to take

immediate and effective measures to secure the prohibition and

elimination of the worst forms of child labor as a matter of urgency. The Secretary of Labor, in her enclosed letter of July 8,

1999, provides additional details concerning the Convention. As she

notes, ratification of Convention No. 182 will be an important step

in terms of U.S. participation in the ILO. All interested departments and agencies concur in that view.

I am pleased to join with the Secretary of Labor in recommending that the Convention be transmitted to the Senate for advice and consent to ratification, a step which is consistent with our

policy of support for and active participation in the work of the

ILO.

Respectfully submitted,

FRANK E. LOY.

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