Bureau of International Labor Affairs

Description

The Bureau of International Labor Affairs (ILAB) protects vulnerable workers worldwide. ILAB combats child labor, forced labor and human trafficking, strengthens labor standards, and enforces trade commitments. ILAB promotes, monitors, and enforces labor-related provisions in U.S. trade agreements and preference programs to create a more level playing field for American workers and businesses. It promotes respect for labor rights and adherence to labor laws to improve enforcement among trading partners and implements projects that fight poverty by improving worker rights and livelihoods.

Use of Funds

ILAB advances workers’ rights and livelihoods through partnerships with governments, employers, and workers that carry out programs, technical assistance, and research.

Justification

• The International Labor Organization (ILO) estimates that 160 million children between 5 and 17 years old were engaged in child labor in 2021, an increase of 8.4 million children since 2016 and a 6.5 million increase in children engaged in hazardous work.
• ILAB has increased the capacity of more than 85 countries to address child labor and forced labor. It has provided more than 70,000 teachers with training to work with children affected by child labor, and trained more than 65,000 labor inspectors and law enforcement officials.
• Since 1995, ILAB has implemented more than 350 projects in 99 countries in partnership with 90 organizations and with the support and association of a variety of governments and private sector partners.
• In 2021, ILAB funded 54 active projects and initiatives within 48 countries, including projects that address child labor and forced labor in the coffee supply chain in Honduras, and that safeguard against addressing fishers’ exploitation at sea in Indonesia and the Philippines.