President Issues Child Soldier Waivers

September 28, 2012/in Child Soldiers, Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Yemen/by Reid Maki

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release

September 28, 2012

Presidential Memorandum — Presidential Determination with respect to the Child Soldiers Prevention Act of 2008

MEMORANDUM FOR THE SECRETARY OF STATE

SUBJECT: Determination with Respect to the Child Soldiers Prevention Act of 2008

Pursuant to section 404 of the Child Soldiers Prevention Act of 2008 (CSPA) (title IV, Public Law 110-457), I hereby determine that it is in the national interest of the United States to waive the application of the prohibition in section 404(a) of the CSPA with respect to Libya, South Sudan, and Yemen; and further determine that it is in the national interest of the United States to waive in part the application of the prohibition in section 404(a) of the CSPA with respect to the Democratic Republic of the Congo, to allow for continued provision of International Military Education and Training funds and nonlethal Excess Defense Articles, and the issuance of licenses for direct commercial sales of U.S. origin defense articles; and I hereby waive such provisions accordingly.

You are authorized and directed to submit this determination to the Congress, along with the accompanying Memorandum of Justification, and to publish the determination in the Federal Register.

BARACK OBAMA

Changes to USDOL’s List of Goods Produced by Child Labor by Country (2012)

September 26, 2012/in Child Labor - International, Countries, News & Events, U.S. DOL/by Reid Maki

Among the changes in this year’s 2012 update, the U.S. Department of Labor’s List of Good Produced by Child Labor by Country:

Additions:

[Product by country]

Afghanistan Coal

Bolivia Bricks

Bolivia Corn

Brazil Beef

Brazil Cashews

Cambodia Fish

Dominican Rep. Baked Goods

Ghana Fish

India Thread/Yarn

Indonesia Fish

Madagascar Stones

Paraguay Bricks

Paraguay Sugarcane

Peru Fish

Philippines Fish

Sierra Leone Cocoa

Sierra Leone Coffee

Sierra Leone Oil (Palm)

South Sudan Cattle

Suriname Gold

Uganda Fish

Vietnam Bricks

New countries added to the 2012 list:

South Sudan, Suriname, and Vietnam.

New goods added to the 2012 list:

Baked goods, beef, fish, and thread/yarn.

To link to full report of the U.S. Department of Labor’s List of Goods Produced by Child Labor or Forced Labor (2012) go here .

Philippines

September 25, 2012/in Fast Facts/by Reid Maki

In the Philippines, an estimated 246,000 children experience abuse, violence and child labor living on the streets.

Rwanda: Northern Province Records High Levels of Child Labor

September 14, 2012/in Agriculture, News & Events, Rwanda/by Reid Maki

By Bosco R. Asiimwe, 24 July 2012 [from AllAfrica.com]

As the government moves to eliminate the use of underage children in exploitive and hazardous activities in the country, a new survey on child labour indicates that 40.6 per cent of people, who are actively engaged in agriculture in the Northern Province, are children.
The ‘Child Labour in Agriculture’ household survey conducted by ICF international in January this year in the Northern Province, estimated 183,000 out of 214,000 people (ages 7 and older) involved in agricultural activities, were active in the previous seven days.
Though more than 74, 000 adults in the province indicated that fewer children were engaged in child labour related activities, over the 90, 000 children asked, reported engaging in these illegal activities.

About 51.2 per cent of child labourers are male. A big number of the victims [52.9 per cent] are aged between seven and 12 years while 28.2 per cent are between 13 and 15 years of age.

Most children were engaged in household chores such as cooking, washing clothes and fetching water. Girls reported doing most chores [84.9 per cent] compared to 74.9 of boys.

Overall, 13.5 per cent of children working in agriculture and attending school reported that their work interferes with their studies, at times forcing them to drop out of school.

Burma/Myanmar Releases 42 Child Soldiers, Vows to End Practice

September 6, 2012/in Burma/Myanmar, Child Soldiers, News & Events/by Reid Maki

September 05, 2012 [from Voice of America]

The Burmese military has released 42 child soldiers from its ranks, as part of efforts to end the recruitment of underage fighters in the Southeast Asian country.

The state-run New Light of Myanmar newspaper says army officials handed the children over to their parents and guardians at a ceremony in Rangoon on Monday.

The newspaper says Burmese officials also have vowed to rid the armed forces of all child soldiers within 18 months, in accordance with a United Nations agreement signed in June.

The U.N. says at least eight other armed groups, apart from the government armed forces, recruit and use child soldiers in Burma, including several rebel and separatist groups.

Since taking power last year, Burma’s nominally civilian government has undertaken several reforms, including easing media restrictions, allowing more freedom to opposition groups, and releasing hundreds of political prisoners.

But rights groups and activists have said that, despite the political and economic reforms, there have been no significant changes in human rights abuses carried out by Burma’s military, particularly in rebel-dominated areas.

Samsung to review 250 Chinese suppliers for labor violations

September 4, 2012/in China, Corporations and Child Labor, Electronic Equipment, Electronics, News & Events/by Reid Maki

SEOUL | Tue Sep 4, 2012 4:28am IST

(Reuters) – Samsung Electronics Co said on Monday it would inspect 250 Chinese companies which make products for the South Korean firm to ensure no labor laws are broken after a U.S.-based group accused one of its suppliers of using child labor.

Samsung also said its audit into working conditions at an HEG Electronics facility in Huizhou in southern China found no under-aged workers. New York-based China Labor Watch said last month seven children younger than 16 were working in the factory that makes phones and DVD players for Samsung.

But Samsung said the audit identified several instances of inadequate management and potentially unsafe practices such as overtime beyond local regulations, improper safety measures and a system of fines for tardiness or absences.

“Samsung has demanded that HEG immediately improve its working conditions… If HEG fails to meet Samsung’s zero tolerance policy on child labor, the contract will be immediately severed,” Samsung said in a statement.

It said it would conduct inspections for all 105 supplier companies in China which produce goods solely for Samsung by the end of September, and review, via documentation, by the end of the year another 144 suppliers that makes products for it and other firms.

“If supplier companies are found to be in violation of our policies and corrective actions not taken, Samsung will terminate its contract with those supplier companies,” Samsung said.

The move follows allegations earlier this year that Apple Inc’s products were assembled in China amid multiple violations of labor law, including extreme hours.