Department of Labor Releases List of Slave-Made Goods
Published September 10, 2009 @ 09:13AM PT
After receiving over 6,200 letters from Change.org community members, the Department of Labor released their long-awaited report on goods produced by child labor and forced labor today. Thank you all for urging DOL to release this important tool for consumers!
This list was mandated by anti-trafficking legislation back in 2005, but the Bush administration dragged their feet for years. Now, thanks to your voices and the hard work of NGOs like Polaris Project and the International Labor Rights Forum, it's finally here. This list is a huge boon for consumers who want to choose slave-free products. With this list, we as consumers can finally hold companies and countries accountable for the slavery they use in making the goods we buy, and we can decisively take action to prevent slavery in the production of consumer goods. Today, we as consumers are more powerful to end slavery than ever before. And you, through Change.org, helped make that happen.
The report tops out at a daunting 194 pages, and can be read in it's entirety here. But let's face it -- no one wants to read 194 page government report, no matter how useful it may be. So here are some of the highlights I've found in my initial read-through:
- The most common goods which have significant incidence of forced and/or child labor are cotton, sugarcane, tobacco, coffee, rice, and cocoa in agriculture; bricks, garments, carpets, and footwear in manufacturing; and gold and coal in mined or quarried goods.
- 122 goods in 58 countries are produced with a significant incidence of forced labor, child labor, or both.
- More goods were found to be made with child labor than forced labor.
There's a long, detailed list that's a little blandly formatted, but it indicates whether goods in a certain country are made with child labor, forced labor, or both. It's important to keep in mind this doesn't mean all goods from that sector in that country were produced with exploitation. Here are some of the worst offenders for forced labor or slavery specifically:
- Bolivia: nuts, cattle, corn, and sugar
- Burma: bamboo, beans, bricks, jade, nuts, rice rubber, rubies, sesame, shrimp, sugarcane, sunflowers, and teak
- China: artificial flowers, bricks, Christmas decorations, coal, cotton, electronics, garments, footwear, fireworks, nails, and toys
- India: bricks, carpets, cottonseed, textiles, and garments
- Nepal: bricks, carpets, textiles, and stones
- North Korea: bricks, cement, coal, gold, iron, and textiles
- Pakistan: bricks, carpet, coal, cotton, sugar, and wheat
I'm sure in the coming weeks and months there will be additional levels of analysis of the data the DOL has collected. For example, I would be extremely interested in the most natural next step -- finding out what companies source problem products from problem countries and ship them to the U.S. I'd also be interested in seeing the breakdown for services, which is not included in this report. Hopefully, we can look forward to that level of analysis coming soon. And if not, I might just go ahead and do it myself.
In the meantime, this report gives consumers a lot to keep in mind as they try and shop responsibly. I know I'll be checking to see if my Christmas decorations were made in China a little more closely this year.
I urge you all to write a quick note of thanks to the DOL for this report in the comments section to let them know how happy we are to have this information.
Photo credit: DOL.gov
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Comments (116)
Comments on Change.org are meant for further exploration and evaluation of the ideas covered in the posts. To that end, we welcome constructive comments. However, we reserve the right to delete comments that are offensive, abusive, or off-topic; that contain ad hominem attacks; or that are designed to subvert or hijack comment threads rather than contribute to them. Repeat offenders may be permanently removed from the site at our discretion.
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Amanda has been a full-time abolitionist for six years. During that time, she has created reports, documentaries and training materials on human trafficking in the United States and around the world.
I'm also happy that this list has finally been published! The International Labor Rights Forum (ILRF) has a press release up here: http://www.laborrights.org/stop-child-forced-labor/news/12102 and there is one from ILRF, Calvert and the American Federation of Teachers about Uzbek cotton here: http://www.laborrights.org/news/12103
Posted by Tim Newman on 09/10/2009 @ 10:30AM PT
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Congrats! Awesome work, everyone. Special kudos to Polaris Project and ILRF for their work on this, as well as the many other organizations that have pressed for the list to be released for some time. This is a powerful first step, and we look forward to using this information to continue the fight against child and slave labor here on Change.org in collaboration with many of the organizations mentioned.
A great day for the Change.org community and anti-slavery activists everywhere!
Posted by Ben Rattray on 09/10/2009 @ 11:59AM PT
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this is very helpful. it will take some time to digest. besides needing to reduce our consumption of many things, we definitely need to be wiser consumers. good work on this!
Posted by Patricia McAdie on 09/10/2009 @ 01:44PM PT
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GREAT NEWS!
Thanks DOL!
Posted by Damaris Constantino on 09/10/2009 @ 01:46PM PT
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DANG this makes me feel good! DANG DANG DANG.
Here's the original PDF download link. You can see the entire list in Part 2 of forced labor goods.
http://www.dol.gov/ilab/programs/ocft/PDF/2009TVPRA.pdf
If no active links allowed,
www.dol.gov/ilab/programs/ocft/PDF/2009TVPRA.pdf
Posted by Cdin Org on 09/10/2009 @ 02:30PM PT
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Thanks for the link, Colin; as I am overworked and lazy (!), I thought you might be able to tell me simply, does this list mention anything about the widespread use of inmate labor to produce furniture, office furnishings, etc., in the US?
Posted by Jamaka Petzak on 09/13/2009 @ 05:47PM PT
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PS: The picture of that child hits to the core.
~~~
Now THIS IS WHAT my government is FOR. Thank you, DOL.
Posted by Cdin Org on 09/10/2009 @ 02:32PM PT
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Well-done! I'm quite interested to see this list put to good use.
Posted by Luella - on 09/13/2009 @ 07:41AM PT
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Thank you, thank you, thank you DOL for making this available, it is so important.
Posted by D. Rebecca Dinovo on 09/13/2009 @ 07:47AM PT
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This didn't take a government report. All they had to do was walk through Mao-Mart, (Walmart for those who shop there).
But most of the people in this country still love Walmart and wouldn't stop shopping there if you told them.
Posted by John Q Public on 09/13/2009 @ 08:01AM PT
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Some folks shop at WalMart because they can't afford to shop in other places. Even at WalMart, you can watch where items are coming from and boycott certain products. That is what I try to do. I'm 68 yrs. old and have to watch what I spend so that I have enough to keep me in my home and not end up on welfare before I die.
Posted by Doris Vician on 09/13/2009 @ 02:35PM PT
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I agree with Doris. And it's not like other stores (discount or otherwise) besides Wal-Mart don't use forced/child labor. It's up to the consumer to do the research (even just looking at the label) and determine what they can, in good conscience, buy. People need to step up and take responsibility for their own purchases. You can't solely blame Wal-Mart for providing what people are willing to buy. If people stop buying it, they will stop carrying it, period.
Posted by Prop Kid on 10/06/2009 @ 03:50PM PT
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Ridiculous! I live on about $11,000.00/year disability. A couple of years ago, Wal-Mart marketed beach totes and messenger bags with my face on them - withuot my permission.
When I sent a Cease and Desist letter, they made me an offer that would allow them to continue putting my face on 'made in China' bags - and put me well outside the poverty level.
I opted to stay in poverty, than to live off the backs of slaves.
Things I can't afford, I dno't buy, and I don't let slaves make for me.
Posted by Bobby Steele on 11/11/2009 @ 12:10PM PT
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Excellent news! Thanks DOL and Obama. Now, how will we see this information used to keep those products out of the US?
Posted by Wayne Hamilton PhD on 09/13/2009 @ 08:03AM PT
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The publication of this data by the DOL is a meaningful step towards achieving a less abusive world. To the DOL: for doing this, thank you.
Posted by Sam Kuper on 09/13/2009 @ 08:20AM PT
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While i would like to thank the Labour Department for making this available,my advise to them is that ;it should try to put more efforts into the roots of what prompt child labour.It is not the isue of manufacturers or countries which practice child labour. The main root lies in factors such as the nature of man,selfshness and greedy (as a result of blindness)on one side and improper distribution of world resources(which i mean unfair world trade regulations on the other.Unfair world trade regulations between rich and poor countries in the really sense instead of focusing on reducing the gap between the rich and the poor;they indirectly play a mojor role in the world poverty accummulation.It is about time for the world leaders to look into child labour problem from broader serious angles.May God bless you all.
Posted by shanni said on 09/13/2009 @ 08:22AM PT
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I agree with you. Yet, the U.S. is still honoring NAFTA.
Posted by L.S. hope on 09/13/2009 @ 01:24PM PT
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Thanks DOL! This is appreciated.
Shanni, you have good intentions, but personally, I don't care why somebody makes people into slaves. I just want them to stop doing it. It's interesting that any time a culture does something like this, it isn't the people who believe slavery is OK, making themselves into slaves. They only do it to other people. If they think it's so important to their culture or whatever, they can sell themselves I guess.
You know, it's not as pervasive a problem, but we have slave or near-slave labor here in the U.S. too, largely (I think) in the agricultural sector. It'd be interesting to know which agribusinesses are underpaying and otherwise abusing their farm workers so we can publicly shame them. I know the tomato growers in Imokalee, FL are bad, but they're not by far the only ones.
Posted by Dana Seilhan on 09/13/2009 @ 08:45AM PT
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A very eye-opening story!! Thanks for sharing. I am so glad we have this information. Thank you Department of Labor! I plan on putting this list to good use!
Posted by Elizabeth Maxwell on 09/13/2009 @ 09:00AM PT
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Great! I'm eager to see a more detailed list. Although we can only act as consumers against this travesty, I continually learn of incidents in the U.S. of "homeschooled" children spending their day laboring, usually for parents. Anyone investigating that? I know they are being employed as home health aides, and farm labor, likely other things, too.
Posted by Laurie Carlson on 09/13/2009 @ 09:32AM PT
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Have you ever considered that those children might need those jobs to help keep their families from falling further into poverty? Have you ever considered that having a job that pays gives a child a sense of responsibility? Unless they are forced into non-paying jobs and made to stay in them against their will, they are NOT slaves, they ARE employees.
Did you ever think it might be a good idea for your own child to get some kind of job (mowing the neighbor's lawn, paper boy, clean out you garage for pay, etc.) to help them develop a work ethic? Why should children in poverty stricken nations be denied the opportunity to willingly take a paying job which allows them to contribute to their families' well being AND develop a work ethic, thereby giving them a personal sense of accomplishment and pride?
Posted by Witch Windy on 09/13/2009 @ 09:34AM PT
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I think the same way. Plus with two nieces who went the way of drugs and sex and teen preg...I think some 'child labor' would be great for them. Good to teach them a trade/skill so they get out of welfare. American kids are getting lazy with no work ethics and just want life handed to them!
Posted by Michelle Hesse on 09/13/2009 @ 10:57AM PT
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Really appreciate your insight and your comment. From someone whose father was a child laborer because his father was denied work all too often due to prejudice and socioeconomic climate in those times, I know that all too often, if the family does not have the income from the children's work, they die. These issues can sound simple; in reality, they are NOT.
Posted by Jamaka Petzak on 09/13/2009 @ 05:44PM PT
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Work ethic? How about some employer ethics?
Posted by Mary Birmingham on 09/13/2009 @ 10:03AM PT
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A paper route, mowing the lawn next door, etc. are a far cry from children working full time with no hope for the future. Yep, it's a complicated problem. But let's not equate it with kids in this country getting a job to make some extra money.
Posted by Ron Henry on 09/13/2009 @ 10:10AM PT
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I didn't, really, the gist of my comment was that those kids often NEED to work to supplement their parent's income (and how do you know they're not getting an education? Perhaps they are taught by their parents, or perhaps they do attend school then work before or after?). It was like that before the mid 20th century in this country, too, children labored on the farms and in the factories and other businesses (where they often apprenticed to learn a trade) and still got a better education than they get in today's prison-like indoctrination centers. When a nation's economy reaches a certain level of prosperity child labor phases out naturally, it is not necessary to make laws against it, and when those laws ARE made, in spite of there being no need, it is often to the detriment of the children, not to their favor.
Posted by Witch Windy on 09/13/2009 @ 01:37PM PT
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Did you not read the title of this report? They are talking about 'Slave Labor', what does that not say to you?? These children are forced to work, they don't have a choice and rarely if ever are compensated for their slave labor! You need to read up on slave labor, sweat shops and the like. These positions are not to learn a new trade or to help out their families. The only people making any money off of their labor are the slave owners, and the people who export these products to the USA. I have owned my own manufacturing business, everything I used in it was grown and sewn in the USA!
Posted by Ruth Janes-Allen on 09/13/2009 @ 03:11PM PT
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Ruth - the children aren't slaves, necessarily. The report makes a distinction between child labour and forced (slave) labour. Even though 'slave' is in the title, the actual findings, according to this article, state that "More goods were found to be made with child labor than forced labor." Hence, while they may not apply to all children in question, the above points about child-labour still stand.
Posted by Rayna Pryce on 09/13/2009 @ 07:30PM PT
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Great news, we are all moving forward together and demonstrating that good positive change can be made in unity. THANKS TO ALL THAT MADE THIS POSSIBLE!!!
Posted by Gino Tarabotto on 09/13/2009 @ 10:11AM PT
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Good job.
Posted by Michael Paone on 09/13/2009 @ 10:20AM PT
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Amanda,
I've looked over a few times and I can't see a link to the report nor one to DOL to send thanks. Am I missing them here?
Posted by Irene Nexica on 09/13/2009 @ 10:21AM PT
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To the Department of Labor: Thank you for releasing this report. "Garments" from China is a little vague; they're so ubiquitous! I will download the whole report and see if I can glean anything more specific.
Posted by Marla Drucker on 09/13/2009 @ 10:23AM PT
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Thank you, DOL! This is one unprecedented step forward towards consciousness. For many more to come.
Posted by Michal Karmi on 09/13/2009 @ 10:47AM PT
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Thank you....adding this info to my own blog too and my facebook status to help bring more awareness.
Posted by Leilani Carbonell on 09/13/2009 @ 10:47AM PT
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As difficult as this might have been, I appreciate this information being available. The more we know, the more we can make choices in our purchases and boycott the items produced by child labor. Thank you.
Posted by Patricia Orlinski on 09/13/2009 @ 11:00AM PT
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If we stopped getting all these good from these countries, we'd be naked and hungry.
Most of these 'child Laborers' are employees and need to work to support the family. Now, There should be rules as to the age of a child working, and schooling required so they can move up in life.
Plus, instead of filling up our prisons with wasted lives...put THEM to work. Guaranteed there would be less crime if they had to do hard labor instead of sitting around a jail learning new ways to get in trouble.
Posted by Michelle Hesse on 09/13/2009 @ 11:03AM PT
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I appreciate the alternative perspective. I'm with you on inmates being put to work.
I'm definitely not with you on the child labor point, though. It's the developing world's desire for more that makes it more lucrative for a family (and their children) to take on factory work than keeping to their traditional ways of life or pursuing education. Young kids working full time jobs can't go to to school. I met a young boy (likely same age as the boy in the photo above) in Guatemala whose parents couldn't send him to school because they needed the money from his peddling nuts to tourists on the streets. When asked if he'd rather go to school, he sheepishly looked at the ground and responded "Si."
I admit, this is but one small anecdotal experience. But all it takes for us is a real life encounter like this to put it all into perspective. In the short term, it does make sense for his family. In the long term, it's incredibly damaging not only to his family, but to his country as a whole and their pride as a people.
And while we needed our industrial revolution (and all of its labor atrocities) to be where we are today, it was driven by our country's wants and desires, not another's. Do you think the consumers, companies, or governments benefiting from these "industrial revolutions" will have any incentive to let the "revolution" progress to the next level...an independently wealthy and secure nation? Most likely not. Unless the American people are prepared to pay $20 for a single plain t-shirt, as more responsible companies like American Apparel charge.
Posted by Marcel Ray on 09/13/2009 @ 01:45PM PT
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Hi, Marcel:
Just to clarify. Our Industrial Revolution did come to satisfy American desires for products and services although we, Americans, aspired to live like the countries of Europe of the time. There were so many investments in American companies by foreign companies that, by World War I, even with magnates like Rockefeller, Vanderbilt, Whitney, and Carnegie, the U. S. was a debtor nation, not a creditor nation. The "American Dream" lifestyle came about only from the mid-1950's onward because, the U. S. alone, was the preeminent industrial and political power in the world. We had a "captive audience" for our products, turning the tables on what had existed in the U. S. prior to World War II.
Posted by Tom Sanchez on 09/14/2009 @ 03:11PM PT
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Thank you DOL for finally obeying the law on anti-trafficking and publicly releasing this info!
Posted by Theodore Blodgett on 09/13/2009 @ 11:17AM PT
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my thanks go out to those responsible for doing the real legwork that allowed for this list to finally be made public. it is an unfortunate truth that too many times the political bravado that goes into writing a bill or "policy statement" is rarely followed by the necessary efforts and/or funding to make that political posturing something meaningful "on the ground." we as consumers and world citizens will need to be as attentive and demanding as possible in our monitoring of all human and environmental issues and concerns. if voting with our pocketbooks is the only measure or action that is understood by the facilitators of human rights violations, let's make that statement LOUD and CLEAR ! ! !
"bestests" to all concerned world members.
Posted by thom danfield on 09/13/2009 @ 11:17AM PT
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Michelle, I agree with you about the prison problem. Thanks to "The Great Ronald Reagan" we now use prisons to punish and not to reform as the quakers originally thought when they started them.
As to the rest, well, children should not be put to work. That is the saddest comment of the world today. Why aren't the parents working instead? There is no reason for children to have to work at adult jobs when they should be in school learning full time how to better themselves, and their country. The practice should be illegalized world wide as it is here and in Europe.
Kudos on getting the DOL to release the information on who is using slave labor. I think if we rely on local farmers and clothing manufacturers, we'll do just fine.
Posted by John Davis on 09/13/2009 @ 11:25AM PT
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I am certain that the parents of those working chilldren are also working, in general, tho some may be disabled and unable to work. In those countries everyone in the family works, if they are able.
Posted by Witch Windy on 09/13/2009 @ 01:40PM PT
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Please check out the following sites for more info about sweatshops:
http://students.washington.edu/uwnewman/sweatshopHandout.pdf
http://web.mit.edu/utr/www/consensus.doc
http://www.geocities.com/knockoutslavery/alexsearch.html
http://www.helium.com/items/1420910-nike-sweatshops-statistics
Enough said...
Posted by Ruth Janes-Allen on 09/13/2009 @ 03:19PM PT
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Just one last site...and this takes place here in the US in beautiful Los Angeles, CA!
http://www.behindthelabel.org/pdf/Retailindus.pdf
Posted by Ruth Janes-Allen on 09/13/2009 @ 03:21PM PT
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Why is Mrs. Obama being praised for her sense of style. She is praised for wearing J Crew and Banana Republic and here I find that those clothing items are made in sweatshop. Now you are praising President Obama for finally getting this info released. What is wrong with this picture?
Posted by Yamakeame Krayzee on 09/16/2009 @ 09:22AM PT
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I'm so glad this finally came out. It's long past due.
Posted by Julie Achterhoff on 09/13/2009 @ 11:28AM PT
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after reading this today, i decided to blog about it.... i'm extremely glad that victories are being made to end slavery, and utterly sad to see this news.
honestly i never looked into this issue before. my dad sent me this article this morning. and my heart broke a little.
thanks
my blog is at http://ontheheartofrain.blogspot.com/
Posted by Ashley Bowman on 09/13/2009 @ 11:33AM PT
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Not too useful. We need teh names of the companies making or contrcting for making these goods.
Posted by patrick o'heffernan on 09/13/2009 @ 11:36AM PT
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Thank you, Dept. of Labor. This is long overdue and a huge step forward to regaining some of the self-respect our nation lost at the beginning of the 21st Century.
If we truly are a democracy, a representative democracy, then we need to demonstrate free speech and responsive, effective institutions.
Posted by Carol Crooks on 09/13/2009 @ 11:54AM PT
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This is one small part of what openness, responsiveness and transparency in government is about. Thanks for the data we need to continue advocacy to end modern-day slavery.
Posted by Neahle Madden on 09/13/2009 @ 12:15PM PT
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Yes, thank you, Department of Labor, for your response to the many requests to post these lists. We hope that, in your doing so, concrete, edifying, merciful and just actions for the children and their families will be realized.
Posted by Sylvia Leach on 09/13/2009 @ 12:24PM PT
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It is good to have this information come out and hopefully you will now analyze this for which companies are bringing these goods into the US so we can boycott those companies until they correct it.
Posted by Karin Anderson on 09/13/2009 @ 12:30PM PT
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As Patrick says, I'm not sure how useful this particular information is for action except as an excellent first step toward getting more specific on companies, for instance, and also in helping to pressure governments to get involved. As the report makes clear, it's nearly impossible to draw conclusions about the countries and industries listed, because data may have been easily suppressed by other countries or industries not appearing on the list; data may not be available for other reasons so as to not yield an appearance on the list; and some given number of companies in the countries+industries listed may be using good labor practices, therefore rendering targeted boycotting, for instance, simultaneously harmful and helpful because it's non-specific. I also feel that Amanda, the blogger, does a disservice by saying "let's face it, who wants to read 194 pages?" - the pertinent information and actual content in this report can be read over in a half hour or less. Of course, I do appreciate being alerted to it, but people will jump to conclusions about how to react to the limited information they actually do consume based on, well, limited information, and those reactions may be counter-productive.
Posted by Jared Scheib on 09/13/2009 @ 12:33PM PT
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I strongly agree with Patrick and Jared. American consumers' purchasing power is a very powerful tool, but we have to use it responsibly. I can't support the release of thist list when it has such a low level of specificity. I'm surprised and disappointed that the report itself isn't more clear about the criteria for a country's addition - it says only that information used showed "significant incidence of child labor or forced labor in the production of a particular good, although not necessarily representing a pattern or practice in the industry as a whole." I'm also disappointed that this fact warrants only a casual mention in Amanda's post.
I am absolutely in favor of educated purchasing to avoid supporting slave labor or forced child labor, but boycotting an entire industry in the country--when we have no idea how many or which of the companies producing or selling those items engage in these practices--can do an incredible amount of damage to companies in the same industry that are operating in a legal and morally acceptable way. Legitimate coffee farmers and manufacturers in Colombia (and Cocoa farmers in Ghana, and carpet makers in Pakistan) should not be boycotted simply because others in their industry are engaging in child labor. So many of these workers depend for their daily meals on the income generated from American consumers - please, think twice before you boycott a good. Let's be sure we're using our purchasing power in a way that will help those in need without harming those who are only trying to make an honest living.
Posted by Ellen DuPont on 09/17/2009 @ 03:50PM PT
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Thanks for allowing the public to finally see the list. What is important now is what can be done to counter and boycott the companies. By releasing the list you have given the public a chance to do something worthwhile. A deep bow of appreciation in your direction!
Posted by Ken Greenwald on 09/13/2009 @ 01:19PM PT
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Thank you for addressing the moral issues of global trade by exposing the products that are made with child labor and slavery. I do not want the choice of buying inexpensive products at the expense of forced labor. These products should be seriously boycotted by our government and not be allowed into our country. I hope we reach that point someday.
Posted by Kathleen Provazek on 09/13/2009 @ 01:21PM PT
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Thank you, DOL!
Posted by Rena Lewis on 09/13/2009 @ 01:27PM PT
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Oddly you have omitted the items produced by slave labor in our own prisons here in America! We have tough laws concerning the import of prison made items, yet no laws on the export of our own prison produced items. Women in California’s Institute for Women produce nomex fire suites for fire departments across the nation and for export to Japan and Korea, these women work for pennies an hour for California Prison Industry Authority, which dumps its profits into supporting the black hole of the prison industrial complex. Although we make up just 4.5% of the worlds population, we incarcerate 25% of the world’s prisoners. Why do we overlook such behavior in our own country and condemn the same in other countries? It is time we set the example for the rest of the world!
Posted by Francis Courser on 09/13/2009 @ 01:36PM PT
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It does seem as if prison inmates earn just pennies a day - but all of those pennies are discretionary income. Their room, board, clothing, laundry service, medical insurance, health care, and lots of other things are paid for by taxpayers, who ultimately reap the benefit of whatever they're manufacturing. There will never come a time when fewer people are incarcerated as long as the US government keeps making laws that curtail our freedoms. And THAT won't happen unless America has another revolution, and THAT won't happen as long as most Americans aren't armed, and they won't be armed as long as America's legislatures keep making laws banning or restricting guns. And THAT won't stop until Americans get fed up with their freedoms disappearing one at a time, slowly but inexorably.
Posted by Terry Simpson on 09/13/2009 @ 02:13PM PT
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What you say about laborers in prisons, I mostly agree with. However, arming everyone with automatic weapons and beyond, you didn't say that, I'm assuming, NO!!!! There is freedom aplenty in this country. I would not want to live anywhere else. God bless America!!
Posted by Doris Vician on 09/13/2009 @ 02:47PM PT
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Do you mean citizens should be armed so that they can shoot those that they don't agree with? That kind of revolution?
Posted by Kristie Stauch-White on 09/13/2009 @ 05:35PM PT
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Prisoners *should* be forced to work. If they hadn't screwed up, they wouldn't be in there. Wrongfully convicted notwithstanding, if they weren't in prison, they'd *still* be working. If I have to work overtime to pay for my room and board, why should they get it for free? I'm not saying they should work in sweatshop conditions, but I do think that treating them like any other citizen in this country, ie working for what they get, is far from cruel and inhumane treatment.
Posted by Prop Kid on 10/06/2009 @ 04:00PM PT
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As Americans we should all be outraged that is took so long to pass this Bill and then impliment its disclosure. To think that the Bush administration would deny us the chance to see the research is unconscoinable. I hope more Americans will download the list of countries and shop accordingly as I promise to do. Once a law is passed by our congress no President should have control of its implemenatation. We are told we live in a Democracy but the last President with the cooperation of a Republican dominated Congress acted to circumvent the protections we are assured in our Constitution and to circumvent the powers of Congress by claiming extra powers for the Executive Branch. This must be reversed if we are to continue as a Democracy.
Posted by W G on 09/13/2009 @ 01:50PM PT
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Thank you DOL. You did your homework and have now done the right thing by releasing this list. Now please lead onward to stop US companies from contracting/subcontracting with those who use this labor.
Posted by Deborah Little on 09/13/2009 @ 02:19PM PT
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If you look at Part II, page 9 of the report, you'll see the definition of "child labor" that they used when compiling this list. It's pretty clear that they're not referring to kids mowing the lawn or having a paper route here. They're talking about kids being forced or coerced, working in unsafe and dangerous conditions, etc.
Children who work all day, whether in fair or poor conditions, do not have time to attend school and get the education that would help them break the cycle of poverty in their families. In countries where children must work, there should be efforts made to protect them from exploitation and provide opportunities for education after hours or at work sites.
Posted by Lisa Kelly on 09/13/2009 @ 02:29PM PT
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Thanks to the DOL for making this list public. I look forward to DOL's release of more detailed information so we can easily see what to avoid buying and where to avoid shopping. WalMart is the obvious one, but I'm sure there are many "respectable" firms happily profiting from the sweat of slaves.
Posted by Ms Hekate on 09/13/2009 @ 02:43PM PT
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Thanks so much DOL for this report! You guys rock!!
I will be watching what I buy very closely, and I hope to soon see a report about which US stores are supporting this, it really upsets me.
Posted by Amy Swanson on 09/13/2009 @ 02:51PM PT
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Thanks DOL. Took a long time but at least we have been made more aware. Hope everyone reads this and remembers that we are all on this little planet called Earth and that what happens to one of us hurts all of us.
Posted by Doris Vician on 09/13/2009 @ 02:52PM PT
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This is great news! Thank you Dept. of Labor for this report.
Posted by Vy Malmuth on 09/13/2009 @ 03:00PM PT
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Thanks for sharing, DOL! Freedom of information -> freedom of laborers, public ingenuity willing.
Posted by Carrie Ashendel on 09/13/2009 @ 03:52PM PT
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Thank you DOL. Can't wait for the list that tells "what companies source problem products from problem countries and ship them to the U.S.". In the meantime, this is a start and much appreciated.
Posted by Di G on 09/13/2009 @ 04:27PM PT
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Thank you so much, Department of Labour, for making this list available to everybody. I appreciate it loads.
Posted by Polina Malamud on 09/13/2009 @ 04:51PM PT
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Those responsible for making this information public must certainly be commended. As many commentators have said it serves to reveal atrocities against human rights not only in third world countries but also in so called developed and enlightened nations of the world including the USA. However, the question remains, can the problem be solved by pleading with consumers to boycott goods produced by slave labour of any kind? I suspect, faced with increasing financial hardships today, many consumers might be forced to put their own survival first and buy the cheapest products available before they consider human rights abuses that might be manifested in those products. Those who want to know the root causes of the problem and correct cures might like to browse through "Eclipse of Destinies: Eloquence of Deception and Betrayal", Trafford Publishing, Indiana, USA. Visit www.trafford.com and www.eclipseofdestinies.com for more information. As Edmund Burke said, "All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing". But good men perhaps also need the power of knowledge which they might find in this publication just been released. Contrary to what some commentators have suggested, there is no room for violence as a means to solve the problem as revealed in this book.
May God bless the world.
Ram.
Posted by Ram Karan on 09/13/2009 @ 04:54PM PT
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Thank you, DOL, for releasing this important information. It will be very helpful to consumers when making decisions about which products to purchase.
I agree that the problem of child labor has many complex factors behind it, such as the poverty of families who need their children to work. Parents need a living wage so that children don't have to work. We need to be prepared to pay more for goods so that those labor to produce them can get paid a living wage. I don't know how all these issues can be resolved, but I hope that by exerting their cumulative consumer pressure, Americans can encourage good labor practices and discourage industries/companies/countries that exploit workers.
Posted by Gwendolyn Woods on 09/13/2009 @ 04:58PM PT
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Thank you SO much. Now I can be a more conscious consumer.
Posted by Sloane Fossett on 09/13/2009 @ 05:05PM PT
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It is important to have this information made public so that consumers can become more conscious of the true cost of many of the items we take for granted--the true cost in terms of exploitation of human lives. Thank you for starting this process DOL, we all need to become aware of how our choices effect people, communities, and the environment. And we need to make different, life affirming choices.
Posted by Leslie Shankman on 09/13/2009 @ 05:14PM PT
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I'm so gratified that this report is finally available. I wonder whether the Obama administration bears some direct responsibility for the Department of Labor's change of heart. The article does not mention the current administration at all. If they were in any way helpful, it would be good to know. This administration is under a lot of attack, both from the left and the right. Since publicizing this issue of slave labor is so important, please give credit where it is due.
Posted by Yvonne Hilton on 09/13/2009 @ 05:17PM PT
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Thanks to the DOL for doing what's right. It's shameful that we're in the 21st century and still dealing with these issues. Can there be enlightenment in the face of greed?
Posted by Simon Levy on 09/13/2009 @ 05:27PM PT
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Thank you so much! You have done the right thing. I will print and bring this list with me when I shop, and avoid the specific items from the specific countries. It would be easier if I had a list of companies to avoid. Is that a possibility? Thank you.
Posted by Theresa Seeber on 09/13/2009 @ 05:36PM PT
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We also need to pay attention to conditions in our own workplaces. DOL and U.S. employers have backslid from the laws we established to protect workers. Check out a new report on this topic by the National Council of La Raza, the largest national Latino civil rights and advocacy organization in the country, at www.nclr.org/fractures.
Posted by Catherine S on 09/13/2009 @ 06:03PM PT
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"Truth in Government" is why we elected Obama.
Thank you for the Child/Slave list.
Posted by Clair Touby on 09/13/2009 @ 06:05PM PT
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Thank you, DOL, for this list, for this first crucial step in understanding and working toward the end of heinous production methods and abuses. It is work we could not do alone as citizens, but thanks to your time and dedication we are better informed.
Posted by Nikki Moore on 09/13/2009 @ 06:29PM PT
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Wow! this is a huge victory! Thank you so much DOL!
Posted by Mercy Lady on 09/13/2009 @ 06:34PM PT
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Thank you DOl, another step forward accomplished!!
Posted by Marie Trzeczak on 09/13/2009 @ 06:54PM PT
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Thank you, DOL, putting this global spotlight on goods produced by child and/or forced labor. This is a positive step in addressing the issue.
Posted by Heidemarie Flannery on 09/13/2009 @ 07:12PM PT
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Thank you for doing the right thing! Now we, as a country, need to do the right thing with our purchasing power.
Posted by Nancy Boyce on 09/13/2009 @ 08:41PM PT
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Hey DOL: I read through the entire PDF and the only mention of the corporations that abuse workers, particularly forced labor, is a single sentence where you let slip that gathering any information about the companies, corporations or employers profiting off of forced labor was "outside [your] statutory mandate".
Without that information this report has no teeth, without that information consumers cannot select products to boycott, or make truly informed decisions about what to consume. For example, child labor has been discovered on some coffee plantations in Colombia but the report includes no information about which companies are hiring Colombian children. Boycotting Colombian coffee would hurt farmers who do not engage in business practices that are illegal under their own or UN standards (or both), and potentially increase the vulnurability of child workers-particularly those in coersive situations.
The report seems to simplify the tragedy of modern and industrial slavery by conflating it with a definition of child labor that is too broad. The definition of child labor on page 25 of the report conflates any employment of persons under the age of 15 with forced pornography (forced or not) including an individual between the ages of 15 and 18, and with slavery in which individuals lose any rights and are not being paid for work in extreme and dangrous conditions. Child labor is a particularly grey area because not all child labor is inherently abusive, and this report does not distinguish between clear, publicised cases of slave-labor involving children (such as children working in carpet factories in Afghanistan) and situations in poor, rural countries with agriculturally-based economies who take jobs on farms (or begin working their farm?) before or at the age of 15.
Many commenters seem to believe that child laborers have the alternative of going to school to "better themselves" or that their parents must simply be too lazy to work-an elitist statement implying that those born into desperate poverty as a result of capitalist exploitation are individually to blame for the situations that the global capital system has placed their countries in
The shockingly narrow, western-centric, and vaguely racist tone of many comments is a sad commentary on how little even those who are interested in ending modern/industrial slavery are when it comes to global economic history.
Speaking of historical ignorance, I would seriously encourage those commentors who believe that "lazy" prisoners should be forced to work to read Douglas Blackmon's "Slavery by Another Name: the re-enslavement of black americans from the civil war to wwii" which provides an extremely detailed (and foot-noted) look at the use of convict labor-and the subsequent rise and fall in mostly specious convictions as demand for labor rose and fell-in the industrialization of the south during and especially following reconstruction. I'm sure some of you have heard of the controversies that surrounded chain-gang labor in the 1930s (eventually leading to a book and movie about the experiences of a white northerner gailed in GA, both called "Escape from a Georgia Chain-Gang") or the controversy surrounding hte use of convict labor in Maricopa county. Blackmon's book provides a the origins of those practices and the amazing level of acceptance they received from the national polity. Slave labor does still exist today in the united states, in the agricultural sector (as one previous commentor guessed) as well as in sweatshops that prey on recent, often undocumented, immigrants. The US DOL should really be paying attention to those claims, rather then "giving first priority" to claims that teenagers not yet 15 have jobs at movie theaters and at diners (see page 48 of the report).
Posted by Jules P on 09/13/2009 @ 09:54PM PT
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This list was long, long, overdue. But seeing it makes me proud of my government and my country.
Posted by John Gates on 09/13/2009 @ 10:04PM PT
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Happy the list has been published, but will there be one with SPECIFIC companies using child labour? How are we supposed to know who to avoid?
Posted by Sarah Rodriguez on 09/14/2009 @ 01:59AM PT
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I'm going to use this for my college freshman research project. It'll be interesting to see what they are able to dig up. As these analyses continue, will we find out that we are supporters of slavery?
Posted by Carolyn Clark Pierson on 09/14/2009 @ 04:26AM PT
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Thanx for your idea,but it will be more better if you could include at the end of your research to propose the possible remedies to the overall problem of child labour.I do not think boycotting alone will be positively implemented and yield the necessary results.
Posted by shanni said on 09/14/2009 @ 05:01AM PT
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This is a great first step and confirms what those of us that work on slavery know - slavery is in almost every part of the world economy. Now we need to use our power as consumers to demand slavery free products.
John Berger, Founder & CEO
http://www.madebysurvivors.com/
Posted by John Berger on 09/14/2009 @ 07:01AM PT
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Thank you Department of Labor and advocates. I appreciate access to this list and believe it should be in the hands of all consumers.
Posted by jen reilly on 09/14/2009 @ 07:57AM PT
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EXCELLENT NEWS - WELL DONE LABOUR Dpt - THANKS on behalf of all our maltreated Sisters & Brothers. God Bless :)x
Posted by tamisin maccarthy morrogh on 09/14/2009 @ 08:03AM PT
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Thank you for publishing this list so that we can help end human trafficking.
Posted by Marie Sawaya on 09/14/2009 @ 08:14AM PT
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Thanks Amanda for your excellent reporting and shedding light on this dark subject. Such an ugly mark on our human existence that needs to be acknowledged by anyone who buys anything - and that's EVERYONE!
Like you, I want to see exactly which companies are importing these goods into the US and which retailers are selling them. I'll be watching out for that.
Big thanks to the DOL for posting this report. You've raised my faith in your institution. Keep up the good work!
Posted by Susan Reed on 09/14/2009 @ 08:29AM PT
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This is a great article. Children should be allowed to be children and not workers. When my wife and I were setting up our company (www.kijijirepublic.com) which sources the products from Kenya, we were particular that the artisan from whom we were buying the products form do not use child labour at all.
The companies that source this products from the corporations using child labour should pay fines to the famlies of this children.
Posted by Njoroge Kabugu on 09/14/2009 @ 09:34AM PT
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THIS is SO IMPORTANT! Thanks to ALL who have participated in making this happen for it is daunting work to trace products all the way back and document, especially when governments and law enforcement turn a blind eye. An fyi to any interested in learning more about Human Trafficking... The University of Nebraska in Lincoln is sponsoring the First Annual Interdisciplinary Conference on Human Trafficking, Oct. 29-31. For more info go to www.conferences.unl.edu/trafficking
Jude
Posted by Judy Greenwald on 09/14/2009 @ 10:11AM PT
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This sounds like an appeasment list to me. There has to be more. Big names should come out.
Posted by Nathan G on 09/14/2009 @ 10:21AM PT
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Way to go, Department of Labor!
Posted by Kristen Gorman on 09/14/2009 @ 01:05PM PT
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My personal thanks and congratulations to the DoL on doing the right thing. I would also like to encourage them and all Americans to lobby their congressional representatives for a law requiring that all imported goods be labelled as to the conditions of labor employed in their manufacture: Specifically stating whether or not the workers labored voluntarily and whether or not they were paid a reasonable wage or in-kind remuneration. As the DoL is collecting appropriate data I believe that this is a reasonable condition to impose on those seeking to reap the benefits of the low-wage labor of other nations.
Posted by Charles Riley on 09/14/2009 @ 03:17PM PT
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This is good progress. However, the DOL must rigorously continue to protect, defend, and advance human rights, dignity, civil rights, and well being.
Posted by Vu Nguyen on 09/14/2009 @ 06:00PM PT
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I'm so happy to see this report be released to the public. I really want to learn more of the specifics and make sure I avoid purchasing any slave made products. I feel so naive to be surprised this deplorable practice is still happening across the world. I'm thankful there are communities like this where I can get information and learn from others.
Posted by Lisa Miller on 09/14/2009 @ 06:26PM PT
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In China in 1999 we visited a rug making factory and saw teenager girls (12 -16) working on the terribly eye-straining work. Our guide even said the girls were let go when the tuned 16 or 17 at most because their eyesight wasn't good enough anymore to do the needle work. Isn't that a dastardly way to treat kids I am fairly sure this hasn't changed in 10 years.
The circumstances often stem from parents who need the money to selling them into this servitude. They are forced to live in barracks or dorms, fed little but rice and worked long hours.
Joan MacDonald
Posted by Joan and Wallace MacDonald on 09/14/2009 @ 08:11PM PT
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PS Thank you DOL for releasing this list at long last. It's a crucial step. Information is the first requirement for ethical action. If enough of us so respond by changing our buying habits and DOL pressures US distributors, the practices will cease. I'm an optimist!
Joan MacDonald
Posted by Joan and Wallace MacDonald on 09/14/2009 @ 08:14PM PT
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thank you! and as another person so rightly wrote, this IS what or government is for!!!
Su Friedrich
Brooklyn, NY
Posted by su friedrich on 09/14/2009 @ 09:58PM PT
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Thank you DOL!!!!!!!
Posted by William Ackley on 09/15/2009 @ 03:30AM PT
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I am not sure we really need the names fo specific companies. If we boycot or abstain from the entire industry of that country that allows slave labor or for children to work instead of going to school, we give the country an incentive to improve conditions. Moving against one company means we fight singular battles, if we move against the industry we give the country and good actors a reason to move against the bad actors. And the best thing about the industry self-regulating is they are in a position to get the best information.
Posted by CH W on 09/15/2009 @ 04:27AM PT
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The problem is, if a company decides to step up and pay a decent living wage, and give priority to adult employment instead of kids, and offer working conditions that could not be considered slums and deathtraps, then they would be harmed by the sanctions as well. Just for one example, some US dairy farmers still use hormones in their cattle (ie Hiland last time I checked), but the ones who don't (ie Great Value, Braums) would be hurt by a blanket boycott of domestic dairy products.
We need to know the specific perpetrators so that we are able to make informed decisions about particular companies, and not risk hurting a company trying to go above and beyond their peers.
Posted by Prop Kid on 11/12/2009 @ 08:39AM PT
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Well done DOL. This is an amazing first step! I agree we need to delve deeper and the next step will be taking this information and using it wisely to promote better working conditions through our purchasing or non-purchasing from specific countries and/or companies. We hope we are doing our part with our Fair Trade business @ http://www.fairtrademarketplace.com/index.php. Fair Trade is growing movement and it seems people are really starting to care, the sad part is that it even takes a name like Fair Trade to create a standard of ethical conditions for working and trade on a global scale that should be inherent. At least we are heading in the right direction.
We will also blog about this topic (as well as many other interesting topics) to increase awareness to our readership and customer base @ http://www.fairtrademarketplace.com/blog.php.
Posted by Nichole Warner on 09/15/2009 @ 01:34PM PT
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Grateful thanks to the DOL for this. It's a step to stopping it, which is a daunting and terrible task. I have a sinking feeling that Wal-Mart suppliers will score high on the retailers lists.
Posted by L.J. Show on 09/16/2009 @ 10:50AM PT
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Thanks DOL! What work went into composing this list! This is fantastic...education is the first step to change. Thanks again!
Posted by Chelsea Hartline on 09/17/2009 @ 07:15PM PT
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Thank you DOL. I do not wish to purchase slave labor produced goods, and this will make it easier to purchase responsibly.
Thanks!
L. Nelson-King
Posted by Laurel Nelson-King on 09/20/2009 @ 03:27PM PT
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Thanks for the efforts DOL and also Change.org. We may be able to moderate our consumptions of labor-produced goods because we know where they came from -- efforts of hard labor! This is a very good step to moving forward on.
Posted by Josh Russel on 09/20/2009 @ 09:46PM PT
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Thanks to the DOL and change.org. I look forward to the next steps of identifying companies. It would also be nice to separately identify, if possible, the kinds of conditions of child labor - underlining particularly hard labor or harsh conditions.
Posted by D. Watson on 10/20/2009 @ 09:12AM PT
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Thank You DOL. Can someone please tell me if there is a Law. Banning the import of goods made with child or slave labor. If not shouldn't congress pass one. THANK YOU
Posted by Ben Williams on 11/21/2009 @ 12:33AM PT
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