{
  "id": "RL31767",
  "type": "CRS Report",
  "typeId": "REPORTS",
  "number": "RL31767",
  "active": false,
  "source": "EveryCRSReport.com",
  "versions": [
    {
      "source": "EveryCRSReport.com",
      "id": 101605,
      "date": "2003-02-28",
      "retrieved": "2016-04-08T14:51:44.489544",
      "title": "Eliminating International Child Labor: U.S. and International Initiatives",
      "summary": "International child labor has become an increasingly important issue in discussions concerning\ninternational trade, human rights and foreign aid. While a number of international, national and local\ninitiatives seek to abolish the practice, there continues to be a debate on what constitutes child labor. \nSome consider any work undertaken by children to be child labor, while others may use the term to\nrefer to work under abusive conditions. The International Labor Organization (ILO) defines child\nlabor as a form of work that is inherently hazardous, employs children below the internationally\nrecognized minimum age, or is exploitative. Child labor is used in this report as defined by the ILO. \nAccording to the ILO about 246 million children were engaged in child labor in 2000. Some 186\nmillion child laborers were below the age of 15, and approximately 110 million were below the age\nof 12.\n  While awareness of the issue has increased, the ability to address the complex problem has been\ncomplicated by a number of related issues including, rising poverty, surging HIV/AIDS infection\nrates, and a lack of relevant education. News stories have featured children working in export\nindustries (such as textiles, clothing, carpets and footwear) and caused international uproar. While\nthe news stories have contributed to a heightened awareness about the problem of international child\nlabor, the ILO has found that child workers in export industries are relatively few compared to those\nemployed in activities geared to domestic consumption. \n  \n  Congressional support for the abolition of international child labor, particularly the worst forms\nof child labor, is very strong. Congress has funded programs to combat international child labor,\ninitiated bills that expand the United States' role in the global fight against child labor, and included\nclauses that require action on eliminating child labor in international trade agreements. Although\nCongress has consistently boosted American efforts to eliminate child labor world-wide, there are\na number of issues that continue to impede these efforts, including: ineffective enforcement\nmechanisms; sparse monitoring systems; and insufficient funding for programs that alleviate\npoverty, decrease incidences of HIV/AIDS, and increase access to relevant education. This report\nwill discuss the ILO definition of child labor, outline the scope of the problem, explain the\ndifficulties in eliminating it, describe U.S. and international efforts to counter exploitative child\nlabor, and present some issues Congress may consider. This report will be updated as events warrant.",
      "type": "CRS Report",
      "typeId": "REPORTS",
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      "topics": []
    }
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  "topics": [
    "Foreign Affairs"
  ]
}