Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09LILONGWE477
2009-08-25 06:02:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Lilongwe
Cable title:
MALAWI: NON-CONCURRENCE ON THE DEPARTMENT OF
how-toVZCZCXYZ0006 RR RUEHWEB DE RUEHLG #0477 2370602 ZNR UUUUU ZZH R 250602Z AUG 09 FM AMEMBASSY LILONGWE TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0717 RUEHC/DEPT OF LABOR WASHDC
UNCLAS LILONGWE 000477
SIPDIS
STATE FOR DRL/ILCSR MARK MITTELHAUSER
LABOR FOR DOL/ILAB BRANDIE SASSER AND CHARITA CASTRO
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EIND ELAB ETRD PHUM SOCI MI
SUBJECT: MALAWI: NON-CONCURRENCE ON THE DEPARTMENT OF
LABOR'S UPDATE OF EXECUTIVE ORDER 13126 LIST
REF: A. STATE 80911
B. LILONGWE 19
C. 08 LILONGWE 304
UNCLAS LILONGWE 000477
SIPDIS
STATE FOR DRL/ILCSR MARK MITTELHAUSER
LABOR FOR DOL/ILAB BRANDIE SASSER AND CHARITA CASTRO
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EIND ELAB ETRD PHUM SOCI MI
SUBJECT: MALAWI: NON-CONCURRENCE ON THE DEPARTMENT OF
LABOR'S UPDATE OF EXECUTIVE ORDER 13126 LIST
REF: A. STATE 80911
B. LILONGWE 19
C. 08 LILONGWE 304
1. (U) Ref. A requested Post concurrence on the Department
of Labor's draft list of products that have been "mined,
produced or manufactured using forced or indentured child
labor," pursuant to Executive Order (EO) 12126. Post does
not/not concur with the inclusion of Malawi for the
production of tobacco on this list.
2. (U) Ref. C noted that the Ministry of Labor in Malawi has
no reported cases of forced labor. As noted in Ref. B and C,
child labor is illegal in Malawi and the GOM continues to
make good faith efforts to comply with its legal code and ILO
standards. Investigations are routinely conducted and
prosecutions are brought. There is no evidence or reason to
suspect that the Ministry of Labor would conceal or not act
on any reported cases of forced labor.
3. (U) Ref. B did note that anecdotal evidence from NGOs
suggests that practices such as debt bondage and forced labor
exist, but statistics are unavailable. Post has not been
able to corroborate these reports from additional sources.
4. (U) COMMENT: Given the paucity of evidence of the
existence of forced labor in Malawi, the demonstrated
progress made by the GOM in reducing the incidence of child
labor on commercial farms, Post feels that Malawi tobacco
should not be included on the DOL list of products produced
with forced or indentured labor. END COMMENT.
BODDE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR DRL/ILCSR MARK MITTELHAUSER
LABOR FOR DOL/ILAB BRANDIE SASSER AND CHARITA CASTRO
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EIND ELAB ETRD PHUM SOCI MI
SUBJECT: MALAWI: NON-CONCURRENCE ON THE DEPARTMENT OF
LABOR'S UPDATE OF EXECUTIVE ORDER 13126 LIST
REF: A. STATE 80911
B. LILONGWE 19
C. 08 LILONGWE 304
1. (U) Ref. A requested Post concurrence on the Department
of Labor's draft list of products that have been "mined,
produced or manufactured using forced or indentured child
labor," pursuant to Executive Order (EO) 12126. Post does
not/not concur with the inclusion of Malawi for the
production of tobacco on this list.
2. (U) Ref. C noted that the Ministry of Labor in Malawi has
no reported cases of forced labor. As noted in Ref. B and C,
child labor is illegal in Malawi and the GOM continues to
make good faith efforts to comply with its legal code and ILO
standards. Investigations are routinely conducted and
prosecutions are brought. There is no evidence or reason to
suspect that the Ministry of Labor would conceal or not act
on any reported cases of forced labor.
3. (U) Ref. B did note that anecdotal evidence from NGOs
suggests that practices such as debt bondage and forced labor
exist, but statistics are unavailable. Post has not been
able to corroborate these reports from additional sources.
4. (U) COMMENT: Given the paucity of evidence of the
existence of forced labor in Malawi, the demonstrated
progress made by the GOM in reducing the incidence of child
labor on commercial farms, Post feels that Malawi tobacco
should not be included on the DOL list of products produced
with forced or indentured labor. END COMMENT.
BODDE