US seeks report on child labour situation
Monday, 10 December 2007
Doulot Akter Mala
The US Department of Labour (USDOL) recently sought detailed information on efforts taken by Bangladesh to eliminate the 'worst form of child labour'.
This is a part of the US move to assess the prevailing condition relating to the child labour in some trade beneficiary countries including Bangladesh.
The department under the Trade and Development Act of 2000 (TDA) has requested the government to furnish information by December 7 for preparing a brief report on prevailing situation on the worst form of child labour.
The report will focus on implementation of international commitments to eliminate the worst form of child labour.
M Humayun Kabir, Bangladesh ambassador to the US, forwarded the USDOL requirements to the Ministry of Labour and Employment, Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock, Ministry of Commerce, Ministry of Women and Child Affairs and Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Responding to the queries, all concerned departments and ministries sent their respective views and details to the Bangladesh embassy in the US to submit it to the USDOL in due time.
On child labour issues, the USDOL sought information about the laws, regulations and their enforcement, social programmes, comprehensive policy and continual progress of the respective countries to eliminate the worst form of child labour.
The USDOL has listed the trade beneficiary countries that enjoy benefits under the Generalised System of Preference (GSP), Caribbean Basin Trade and Partnership Act (CBTPA) and Africa Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) to prepare findings on child labour issues.
Earlier, a US non-governmental organisation (NGO) filed a writ petition with the US Trade Representative (USTR) for withdrawal of GSP facility from Bangladesh claiming involvement of child labour in the export-oriented industries.
The country's leading exporters have attended a hearing of the petition last month to clarify the issues and give a detailed scenario on fulfillment of compliance of international buyers.
Against the backdrop, the Ministry of Commerce has decided to conduct a study on involvement of child labour in the export-oriented industries.
Recently, the business promotion council under the Ministry of Commerce signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Katalyst, a consultancy, to assess the child labour involvement in shrimp factories.
The US Department of Labour (USDOL) recently sought detailed information on efforts taken by Bangladesh to eliminate the 'worst form of child labour'.
This is a part of the US move to assess the prevailing condition relating to the child labour in some trade beneficiary countries including Bangladesh.
The department under the Trade and Development Act of 2000 (TDA) has requested the government to furnish information by December 7 for preparing a brief report on prevailing situation on the worst form of child labour.
The report will focus on implementation of international commitments to eliminate the worst form of child labour.
M Humayun Kabir, Bangladesh ambassador to the US, forwarded the USDOL requirements to the Ministry of Labour and Employment, Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock, Ministry of Commerce, Ministry of Women and Child Affairs and Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Responding to the queries, all concerned departments and ministries sent their respective views and details to the Bangladesh embassy in the US to submit it to the USDOL in due time.
On child labour issues, the USDOL sought information about the laws, regulations and their enforcement, social programmes, comprehensive policy and continual progress of the respective countries to eliminate the worst form of child labour.
The USDOL has listed the trade beneficiary countries that enjoy benefits under the Generalised System of Preference (GSP), Caribbean Basin Trade and Partnership Act (CBTPA) and Africa Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) to prepare findings on child labour issues.
Earlier, a US non-governmental organisation (NGO) filed a writ petition with the US Trade Representative (USTR) for withdrawal of GSP facility from Bangladesh claiming involvement of child labour in the export-oriented industries.
The country's leading exporters have attended a hearing of the petition last month to clarify the issues and give a detailed scenario on fulfillment of compliance of international buyers.
Against the backdrop, the Ministry of Commerce has decided to conduct a study on involvement of child labour in the export-oriented industries.
Recently, the business promotion council under the Ministry of Commerce signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Katalyst, a consultancy, to assess the child labour involvement in shrimp factories.