FORCED OR CHILD LABOR -- INDONESIA'S RESPONSE TO

UNCLAS JAKARTA 001532 SENSITIVE SIPDIS DEPT FOR EAP, EAP/MTS, EAP/MLS, EAP/RSP, DRL/ILCSR, G/TIP PASS TO US DEPARTMENT OF LABOR/ILAB E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PGOV ECON ELAB ID SUBJECT: FORCED OR CHILD LABOR -- INDONESIA'S RESPONSE TO USDOL LIST REF: STATE 92560 ¶1. (U) This message is Sensitive but Unclassified -- Please handle accordingly. ¶2. (SBU) SUMMARY: Mission has reviewed USG points re the U.S. Department of Labor's list of goods produced by forced labor or child labor with Indonesian Department of Foreign Affairs and other contacts. Deputy Pol/C (Labatt) explained that the primary purpose of the list was to promote awareness and increase efforts to eliminate child labor and forced labor in the production of goods. Our contacts responded that the GoI was committed to the elimination of such labor and was engaged with a variety of actors, including the USG, in combating the problem. END SUMMARY. ¶3. (SBU) Per reftel, Mission has reviewed USG points re the US Department of Labor's list of goods produced by forced labor or child labor with the GOI. (Note: The list is mandated by the Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act, "TVPRA," of 2005.) DepPol/C made the points to Department of Foreign Affairs (DEPLU) Director for Human Rights Affairs Wiwiek Setyawati Firman on September 10. Deputy Pol/C explained that the intent of the report was to raise awareness and increase efforts to eliminate child labor and forced labor. Mission also flagged the report to other key ministries. ¶4. (SBU) DepPol/C went into the details of the report. She emphasized that the listing of sandals, gold and tobacco did not indicate that all production of these products involved child labor, but that there were significant incidences of child labor in these industries. Moreover, the list did not serve as a legal basis for a ban on imports. That said, it was important that the GOI take steps to eliminate these forms of labor in the production of goods. The USG was a partner in this effort and would continue to work with Indonesia in this key area. ¶5. (SBU) Our GOI contact listened carefully to the USG points. Firman responded that the GoI was working to eliminate all forms of child and forced labor in Indonesia, including in those industries highlighted in the report. She noted that in addition to its own programs, the GoI was also working with NGOs and governments from around the world, including the United States. to stop child or forced labor. It was a difficult problem, she allowed, but Indonesia would continue its efforts to counter the use of such labor. OSIUS