EGYPT: ADDITIONAL CONCERNS REGARDING DRAFT LIST OF

C O N F I D E N T I A L CAIRO 000462 SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR NEA/ELA; DRL/ILCSR FOR ANZALDUA E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/17/2029 TAGS: EAGR EIND ELAB ETRD PHUM SOCI EG SUBJECT: EGYPT: ADDITIONAL CONCERNS REGARDING DRAFT LIST OF GOODS PRODUCED BY CHILD LABOR REF: A. CAIRO 402 ¶B. SECSTATE 1730 ¶C. 08 CAIRO 1192 ¶D. CAIRO 262 Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission Matthew Tueller for Reason 1.4 (d). 1.(C) Summary: Post appreciates the additional information regarding sources used by the Department of Labor to support its proposal to list Egyptian limestone and cotton as goods produced by child labor. Post agrees that there is sufficient information to include limestone on the list, and provided information supporting the listing (ref C). With respect to cotton, while there are indications that child labor is employed in the production of cotton, the sources cited do not support such a listing. While we understand DOL is listing products "it has reason to believe are produced with child labor," a thorough investigation is warranted, especially in light of the ongoing restructuring of the Egyptian cotton industry, an investigation Post will endeavor to conduct. If the results of that investigation justify listing cotton, it can be added to a subsequent list. End summary. 2.(C) We reviewed each of the sources cited to support listing cotton. While we do not question the accuracy of the sources, they appear to be based on old or unattributed data or on anecdotal reports. --With respect to the 2001 Human Rights Watch report, the data relied upon appears to have been gathered by the GoE in ¶1996. --The UNICEF document, while reporting that "(o)ver a million children are hired each season, for example, to bring in the Egyptian cotton crop," does not cite a source for the data, or include critical information regarding the age or working conditions of the children involved in the harvest. -- The 2006 Land Center for Human Rights Report on "Working Children and Pesticides," while prepared by a reputable local NGO which we consult with regularly, does not focus on cotton production, but on agriculture and child labor more generally. -- The Observer newspaper article cited relies on the Human Rights Watch and UNICEF reports, and is otherwise based on anecdotal accounts. ¶3. (SBU) Cotton production in Egypt is in sharp decline and local textile producers are increasingly relying on imported cotton (ref D). Given this ongoing restructuring of the Egyptian cotton industry, we believe the limited data cited as DOL's sources should be revalidated. -------------- Embassy Recommendation -------------- 4.(C) We recommend against including cotton on the current TVPRA list of products produced with child labor. As noted in ref A, we talked to a number of NGOs actively working to combat child labor in Egypt. None could provide meaningful data justifying such a listing. (Note: In contrast, NGOs involved in combating child labor in Minya's quarries were able to provide detailed information on the use of child labor in limestone production (ref C). End note.) The sources cited by DOL do not provide us a basis to make a compelling case locally justifying listing cotton, and such a listing without strong support could jeopardize ongoing children's rights cooperation. A better course would be for Post, DOL and local NGOs to thoroughly investigate the issue before proceeding with the proposed listing. SCOBEY