FRENCH OVERSEAS TERRITORIES INFORMATION FOR TRADE

UNCLAS PARIS 000010 STATE PLEASE PASS DRL/ILCSR (TU DANG) DOL PLEASE PASS ILAB (TINA MCCARTER) E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PHUM ELAB EIND ETRD SOCI FR SUBJECT: FRENCH OVERSEAS TERRITORIES INFORMATION FOR TRADE AND DEVELOPMENT ACT (GSP) REPORT REF: 08 STATE 127448 ¶1. In post's assessment, France continued to meet its international commitments in 2008 to eliminate the worst forms of child labor in its overseas territories. The following update is in response to reftel's request for information to determine if countries eligible for trade benefits under the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) are meeting their obligations to combat such practices. ¶2. Article L4153-1 of the French labor code prohibits employment for individuals under 16, including in France's overseas territories. In addition, article 52-1322 specifies that this prohibition extends to the territory of Wallis and Futuna. According to our contacts in the Ministry of the Interior, the law on child labor is respected and enforced in all of France's overseas territories. ¶3. French authorities launched no new initiatives in 2008 to protect against the worst forms of child labor. But an Interior Ministry official confirmed to poloff December 30 that the ministry had received no new complaints with respect to child labor practices in French overseas territories in 2008. In addition, we are unaware of any independent reports of cases of child labor-related abuses in France's overseas territories during the past year. STAPLETON