Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09BOGOTA275
2009-01-28 13:36:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Bogota
Cable title:
COMMENTS ON THE CHILD LABOR DRAFT LIST FOR TVPRA
how-toVZCZCXYZ0002 PP RUEHWEB DE RUEHBO #0275 0281336 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 281336Z JAN 09 FM AMEMBASSY BOGOTA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 6717 INFO RUEHBR/AMEMBASSY BRASILIA PRIORITY 8602 RUEHCV/AMEMBASSY CARACAS PRIORITY 1573 RUEHLP/AMEMBASSY LA PAZ JAN 9871 RUEHPE/AMEMBASSY LIMA PRIORITY 6933 RUEHZP/AMEMBASSY PANAMA PRIORITY 2924 RUEHQT/AMEMBASSY QUITO PRIORITY 7631 RUEHGL/AMCONSUL GUAYAQUIL PRIORITY 4798
C O N F I D E N T I A L BOGOTA 000275
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/27/2019
TAGS: PTER PGOV PREL ECON SOCI CO
SUBJECT: COMMENTS ON THE CHILD LABOR DRAFT LIST FOR TVPRA
REF: A. SECSTATE 3075
B. BOGOTA 2261
Classified By: Political Counselor John S. Creamer.
Reasons: 1.4 (b) and (d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L BOGOTA 000275
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/27/2019
TAGS: PTER PGOV PREL ECON SOCI CO
SUBJECT: COMMENTS ON THE CHILD LABOR DRAFT LIST FOR TVPRA
REF: A. SECSTATE 3075
B. BOGOTA 2261
Classified By: Political Counselor John S. Creamer.
Reasons: 1.4 (b) and (d).
1. (C) This is a response to the request for comment on the
Department of Labor's (DOL) draft list of goods from counties
that the Bureau of International Labor Affairs (ILAB) has
reason to believe are produced by forced labor or child labor
in violation of international standards. Post concurs with
DOL that the goods listed are sometimes produced by child
labor, but notes that the incidence is low, and occurs almost
exclusively in the informal sector or industries that are
already criminalized under existing Colombian law.
2. (C) In the case of Colombia, DOL lists:
Bricks (clay) - Child Labor
Coal - Child Labor
Coca (stimulant plant) - Child Labor and Forced Labor
Coffee - Child Labor
Emeralds - Child Labor
Gold - Child Labor
Pornography - Child Labor
Sugarcane - Child Labor
2. (C) As per reftel b, post notes that in the formal
sector--where the vast majority of the clay, coal, coffee,
emeralds, gold and sugarcane are produced--child labor is not
used. The informal, family-based, artisanal mines and farms
are where child labor is almost exclusively found, according
to International Labor Organization National Coordinator for
the International Program to Eliminate Child Labor Liliana
Obregon. Colombian economists estimate, for example, that
only 1-3% of all coal, gold, clay and emeralds produced in
Colombia comes from the informal sector. Post agrees with
DOL's finding that some child labor continues to occur in the
illegal cultivation of coca as well as the pornography
industry.
BROWNFIELD
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/27/2019
TAGS: PTER PGOV PREL ECON SOCI CO
SUBJECT: COMMENTS ON THE CHILD LABOR DRAFT LIST FOR TVPRA
REF: A. SECSTATE 3075
B. BOGOTA 2261
Classified By: Political Counselor John S. Creamer.
Reasons: 1.4 (b) and (d).
1. (C) This is a response to the request for comment on the
Department of Labor's (DOL) draft list of goods from counties
that the Bureau of International Labor Affairs (ILAB) has
reason to believe are produced by forced labor or child labor
in violation of international standards. Post concurs with
DOL that the goods listed are sometimes produced by child
labor, but notes that the incidence is low, and occurs almost
exclusively in the informal sector or industries that are
already criminalized under existing Colombian law.
2. (C) In the case of Colombia, DOL lists:
Bricks (clay) - Child Labor
Coal - Child Labor
Coca (stimulant plant) - Child Labor and Forced Labor
Coffee - Child Labor
Emeralds - Child Labor
Gold - Child Labor
Pornography - Child Labor
Sugarcane - Child Labor
2. (C) As per reftel b, post notes that in the formal
sector--where the vast majority of the clay, coal, coffee,
emeralds, gold and sugarcane are produced--child labor is not
used. The informal, family-based, artisanal mines and farms
are where child labor is almost exclusively found, according
to International Labor Organization National Coordinator for
the International Program to Eliminate Child Labor Liliana
Obregon. Colombian economists estimate, for example, that
only 1-3% of all coal, gold, clay and emeralds produced in
Colombia comes from the informal sector. Post agrees with
DOL's finding that some child labor continues to occur in the
illegal cultivation of coca as well as the pornography
industry.
BROWNFIELD