Bureau of International Labor Affairs

Strong labor movements are essential for healthy, inclusive democracies. That’s because independent and democratic trade unions provide workers a voice in their workplace, community and political system. In the comments, tell us how unions have made a difference in your workplace or country. https://lnkd.in/eX7jZa5F

The Forced Labor Enforcement Task Force, chaired by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and with crucial input from ILAB as a key member, just announced the first steel and aspartame companies to be added to the #UFLPA Entity List, bringing the total number of entities on that list to 75. The U.S. government is united in its commitment to global worker rights, and keeping goods made with forced labor in China from reaching the U.S. market is a big part of delivering on that commitment. https://lnkd.in/g9uYn5MQ

We visited Zambia recently to learn directly from stakeholders about the state of child labor in the country, particularly in the agricultural and mining sectors. Trips like this are critical to informing our research into our annual Findings on the Worst Forms of Child Labor. ILAB and embassy staff met with several ministries and NGOs in Lusaka and Mansa. Discussions included learning about the economic and social pressures drawing children away from education, and how Zambia can continue to make advances to eliminate the worst forms of child labor.

We are thrilled to welcome Margaret Jungk as the new director of the Office of Child Labor, Forced Labor and Human Trafficking following Marcia Eugenio’s retirement. Margaret has served as a deputy director in that office since 2019, leading the Research & Policy Unit. She brings an impressive track record in human rights, having previously been the managing director of human rights at Business for Social Responsibility and serving as a special rapporteur in the Human Rights and Business Working Group with the United Nations. Before her UN appointment, Margaret worked for over a decade at the Danish Institute for Human Rights, where she founded and directed a department dedicated to business and human rights. In her own words: “I am honored to step into this role and excited to build on our successes and tackle emerging challenges in the fight against child labor and forced labor. I look forward to working with our partners to drive meaningful change for children and workers worldwide.” With her deep commitment to labor rights and extensive expertise, we are confident that Margaret will lead us into a new era of impact and innovation. Please join us in welcoming her to this new role!

An estimated 1 billion people have disabilities worldwide (about 15% of the world's population), making them the largest minority on the planet. And remember: disabilities are not always obvious. On this month and every month, we commit ourselves to ensuring access to good jobs for all, and we honor the value and talent workers with disabilities add to the world's workplaces, including ours at ILAB. The U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Disability Employment Policy is an important partner organization in this effort. Come join the #NDEAM celebration!

Today, we are briefing Congress on how we’re delivering on their important mandates: to report on the state of global child labor and forced labor. 160 million children—who should be in classrooms learning and building their futures—remain trapped in child labor. An estimated 28 million people are trapped in forced labor globally. To eliminate these abuses, collaboration among governments, NGOs, unions, workers and companies is essential. We must work together to uphold workers' rights, strengthen and enforce labor laws, ensure fair pay and hours and provide social protections. And add pressure when pressure is needed, especially through our trade tools. Check out our latest reports: https://lnkd.in/eEFjvdVa

It's International Coffee Day! While many celebrate with their favorite brew, we're stirring up awareness about a bitter reality: labor exploitation exists in #coffee production around the world. Our COFFEE Project, implemented by Verité, is at the forefront of this work in Latin America. The project equips the coffee industry with the tools and knowledge to address labor exploitation in their supply chains. The project also works with a coalition of coffee brands, traders, producers and other key stakeholders to drive real change in the global coffee sector. Through this collaborative effort, we've made significant strides. But our work is far from over. We're happy to announce the extension of this vital project for expanded work in Brazil, with ambitious goals on the horizon: ✅ Broadening our impact to reach more workers and farms, expanding the project’s coverage into new coffee-producing states in Brazil. ✅ Empowering workers and their families with knowledge of their labor rights ✅ Strengthening businesses’ systems to detect, prevent and remediate labor violations as they occur throughout the supply chain. This expansion aligns with our commitment to the Partnership for Workers' Rights (PWR), a collaborative initiative between the U.S. and Brazil. The PWR aims to create inclusive, sustainable prosperity by empowering workers and ending exploitation, including forced labor and child labor. Do you know where your coffee comes from? As a coffee lover, you have the power to make a difference. Buying ethically sourced coffee helps eradicate labor abuses in global supply chains. Every mindful purchase is a step towards a more ethical coffee industry. https://lnkd.in/ggnKWDXw #Partners4WorkerRights

Craving a little chocolate as we head into Halloween season? Well, it's not the only #cocoa product that might be tainted with child labor. Our new #SupplyChain research reveals that child labor extends beyond raw cocoa to processed products like cocoa butter, cocoa powder and cocoa paste. These products are found in everyday items – from candy and ice cream to skincare and cosmetics. The latest entry in our Exposing Exploitation in Global Supply Chains Series unravels the intricate global supply chains that bring cocoa products from farms to our shelves and the challenges in ensuring ethical production. Check it out: https://lnkd.in/eeVVjEga Can’t get enough? Soak in more of our innovative supply chain research, from palm oil to critical minerals: https://lnkd.in/g4M4FDCp #DueDiligence

After seven fruitful years, our MAP16 Project with the International Labour Organization has come to an end. The initiative worked with partners globally to conduct research, raise public awareness, and build partnerships to address child labor, forced labor and human trafficking worldwide. Here's just a sampling of our collective achievements: ✅ Strengthened national laws, policies and enforcement, as well as other efforts to address child labor and forced labor in 13 countries. ✅ Developed guidelines on designing and implementing forced labor surveys and on detecting forced labor in commercial fishing, which is being used by maritime enforcement agencies worldwide, including the U.S. Coast Guard. Impact on countries & states: ✅ In the Indian state of Bihar, the project linked families with children affected by child labor to government social services and facilitated the enrollment of children in age-appropriate classes and skills training. ✅ In Kosovo, because of the project’s advocacy and support, the Forest Law now prohibits hazardous work for all children under 18 in the forestry sector. ✅ In Nigeria and Mongolia, the government conducted a National Child Labor Survey and a National Forced Labor Survey. In Mongolia, the results of the forced labor survey are being used to amend relevant laws and develop new legislation. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to all who have contributed to MAP16’s success. Your dedication and unwavering support have been instrumental in driving positive change and promoting the rights and dignity of children and adults involved in or at risk of child labor and forced labor worldwide. Visit ILAB's Knowledge Portal for all of MAP16's innovative research tools and studies. For videos and more information about the project, please visit https://lnkd.in/e2Wcs2k3

We asked unions at the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework’s Labor and Network Discussion what outcomes they wanted the framework to deliver for workers. ILAB helped weave labor rights into the fabric of IPEF’s three agreements and we continue to bring workers, governments and the private sector together to promote labor rights and decent work in the region.  Read more about how we’re doing this: https://lnkd.in/eMyW3vzH