The US hailed “significant advancement” in 10 countries, mostly in Latin America and Asia, in combating the worst forms of child labour, in a report published Monday.
Three countries – Democratic Republic of Congo, Eritrea and Uzbekistan – were cited for government complicity in forced child labour.
But in a 826-page report, the Department of Labor said half of the developing countries and territories it surveyed had made at least “moderate” progress towards eradicating child labour.
Ten countries made “significant advancement,” including three Southeast Asian nations (Indonesia, the Philippines and Thailand) and five in Latin America (Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru).
Ethiopia also made the grade, as did Gibraltar, one of several British overseas territories lumped together with developing nations for scrutiny by the Department of Labor’s Bureau of International Labor Affairs.
In a first, the Department of Labor also removed three goods – charcoal from Namibia, diamonds from Zimbabwe and tobacco from Kazakhstan – from its running list of products made with child or forced labour.
“We’re moving in the right direction, but we have a lot more work to be done,” said newly-appointed Labor Secretary Thomas Perez in presenting the report, the 12th in an annual series.
The International Labour Organization, a United Nations agency, says there are still 168 million children working worldwide, 85 million of them in conditions deemed to be hazardous.
“Nations should not build their economic futures on the backs of children,” Perez said. “That’s categorically wrong.” –AAP
June 2025
Philippine Environment Month!
“Action for Nature, for the Future!”
Invoke Article 33 of the ILO Constitution
against the military junta in Myanmar
to carry out the 2021 ILO Commission of Inquiry recommendations
against serious violations of
Forced Labour and Freedom of Association protocols.
Accept National Unity Government (NUG)
of Myanmar. Reject Military!
#WearMask #WashHands #Distancing #TakePicturesVideosturesVideos
Monthly Observances:
1 Jun – World Day of Parents
5 Jun – World Environment Day
7 Jun – World Food Safety Day
8 Jun – World Oceans Day
12 Jun – World Day Against Child Labour
15 Jun – World Elder Abuse Awareness Day
16 Jun – International Day of Family Remittances
17 Jun – World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought
20 Jun – World Refugee Day
25 Jun – Day of the Seafarer
27 Jun – Micro-, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises Day
Daily Observances:
June 6: Migrant Workers Day
June 19: Filipino Youth Day
June 25: Day of the Filipino Seafarer
