U.S. BUSINESS COMMUNITY’S LETTER TO THE SENATE FOREIGN RELATIONS COMMITTEE: ILO CONVENTION ON THE WORST FORMS OF CHILD LABOR
September 23, 1999
Honorable Jesse Helms
Senate Foreign Relations Committee
Washington, DC.
Dear Senator Helms
We the undersigned representatives of the U.S. business community are writing to express our support for U.S. ratification of the International Labor Organization’s (ILO) Convention on the Worst Forms of Child Labor, adopted by the 1999 International Labor Conference this June in Geneva. We believe that a comprehensive, multilateral approach represents the best means to alleviate this deplorable situation around the world. The U. S. business community was deeply involved in the development of this treaty and played a critical role in the negotiations of the Convention, in particular in ensuring that it does not conflict with U.S. law and practice.
The U.S. business community supports U.S. ratification of this Convention for several reasons. Morally, the egregious forms of child labor addressed by this Convention are repugnant to all Americans – children must not be subjected to slavery, bondage, prostitution, drug trafficking, and extremely hazardous forms of work. When ratified, the Convention establishes binding, multilateral, international obligations. It is well crafted and is strong enough to be effective, yet not so detailed that it presents technical barriers to universal ratification. Indeed, all governments represented at the 1999 International Labor Conference committed themselves to speedy ratification.
The U.S. business community has supported ILO efforts to eradicate the most egregious forms of child labor since the ILO started the International Program for the Elimination of Child Labor (IPEC) in 1992. This multilateral technical assistance program, whose largest single source of funds is the U.S. Department of Labor, is distinct from the legal obligations of the Convention. IPEC’s most noteworthy success is the initiative to remove and rehabilitate child workers in the soccer ball industry in Sialkot, Pakistan. Thousands of children have been removed from work and sent to schools. Adults in these families now sew the soccer balls previously sewn by children, thus ensuring that the family does not lose the income. Experience gained from these programs is being used to address child labor problems in other industries and in other regions of the world.
Recognizing the need to strengthen the ILO’s ability to address credibly violations of workers’ rights (including child labor), U.S. business spearheaded and supports the ILO Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work. This Declaration, adopted by the ILO in June 1998, represents a political commitment by all 174 ILO member states to respect and uphold certain fundamental principles. We anticipate that the Declaration’s follow-up will bring serious international pressure to bear on countries with a persistent pattern of abuses in the areas it covers. The effective abolition of child labor is one such area. The enclosed brochure provides additional detail on this important achievement. Together, the Declaration and the Child Labor Convention demonstrate the central role of the ILO.
After a thorough legal review, it is our view that ratification of the Convention banning the worst forms of child labor will not require any changes to federal or state child labor statutes. Nor will it have any impact on the recruitment policies of the U.S. Armed Forces. It does not apply to family farms. In sum, it will not affect U.S. domestic law and practice. The legal reviews accompanying President Clinton’s submission of the treaty – in which U.S. business participated – support this opinion by providing a detailed analysis of the Convention. U.S. ratification of this Convention, however, allows us to demonstrate global leadership on this tragic problem, and universal ratification will provide children around the world an opportunity to have access to basic education and a more decent standard of living than otherwise possible.
We urge you to take the lead in securing advice and consent of the United States Senate to ratification of this historic Convention. We are available to meet with you or your staff at your convenience to discuss these issues in further detail.
Sincerely,
American Apparel Manufacturers Association
The Business Roundtable
National Association of Manufacturers
National Foreign Trade Council
National Retail Federation
Sporting Goods Manufacturing Association
U.S. Chamber of Commerce
U.S. Council for International Business
