Rohingya News Agency‏ ‏‎–(iipdigital.usembassy):‎ The U.S. Labor Department’s Bureau of International Labor Affairs (ILAB) has awarded $5 million to the International Labour Organization to help reduce child labor in Burma and support the Burmese government’s efforts to comply with international standards.

The grant to the ILO is for a project that will:
• Support research and collection of data on the extent and nature of child labor in Burma.
• Build the capacity of national and local organizations to carry out efforts to reduce child labor.
• Implement pilot programs to remove or prevent children from involvement in exploitative labor.
• Raise awareness about child labor in the country.

“This project will develop effective strategies for reducing child labor in Burma,” said Deputy Undersecretary of Labor for International Affairs Carol Pier. “It will expand understanding of the extent and nature of the problem and help stakeholders in the country increase efforts to protect children.”
The project involves collaboration among government agencies and ministries at the national, regional and local levels, including Burma’s Ministry of Labour, Employment and Social Security. It will also work with workers’ organizations, employers’ organizations, civil society organizations and teachers.

Since 1995, ILAB projects have rescued approximately 1.7 million children from exploitative child labor, the department says. The Labor Department has funded 275 such projects implemented by more than 65 organizations in 93 countries. ILAB currently oversees more than $245 million of active programming to combat the worst forms of child labor. The 12th edition of ILAB’s Findings on the Worst Forms of Child Labor is available on the department’s website, where more information is also available.

For more information about the Labor Department’s efforts to reduce child labor globally through its cooperative agreements, read Pier’s blog post Transforming Dreams for Child Laborers.