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Senator or Department: SENATOR HARKIN Instructions: Prepare one form for insertion at the beginning of each record series. Prepare and insert additional forms at points that you would like to index.
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Record Type*: Speeches
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(1) Subject*: International-Human Rights Speeches
(2) Staffer*: Jim Whitmire
E Maintain (Return to Office) O Destroy (Shred)
*REQUIRED INFORMATION 1 11111111111111111111 Rugmark Movie Introduction March 14, 2001
* TY Terry, for that kind introduction, and for all your good work on behalf of Rugmark.
* And I'd like to welcome you all here today for the screening of "The Carpet Slaves: Stolen Children of India -- which highlights Rugmark's work to eradicate child labor in the hand-knotted carpet industry.
* Before we begin the film, I'd like to take a moment to recognize several people here today
- and make a few brief remarks on the status of our work to end child labor.
* TY Pharis [fair-is] Harvey and Nina Smith for your trail- blazing efforts for Rugmark.
* I'd also like to recognize someone who couldn't be here today, who's been a real torch-bearer for Rugmark, -- and that's Stephanie Odegard [oh-deh-gard].
* Stephanie was the first importer to join Rugmark in America,
-- and she's worked tirelessly to raise awareness and bring her colleagues on board.
1 * I know that stepping out from the rug industry and breaking the silence around child labor hasn't made Stephanie the most popular person in the business, - but it's made a real difference for Rugmark and for a lot of young kids who are now in schools instead of factories,
-- and I commend her for her work.
* I also especially want to thank Brian Woods, -- Kate Blewett [blew-it], -- HBO, -- Nancy Abraham, -- and everyone who worked with them, for bringing us this film.
* I know that filming and producing this movie wasn't easy. -- It probably wasn't always safe. -- And it certainly isn't going to make anyone rich.
* But because of your courage and vision, people across America will soon witness the horrors of forced child labor -- many of them for the first time.
* After watching your documentary, I know that a lot of Americans are going to get down on their knees and take a good hard look at the labels on their rugs.
2 * And next time they're at the oriental carpet store, you can bet that they're going to demand Rugmark.
* I'm proud to serve on the Board of Directors of Rugmark -- and to display a Rugmark rug in the center of my office.
* And I'm proud to stand with Rugmark against abusive child labor.
* My core beliefs about child labor exploitation are simple:
* Children don't belong in factories, fields or brothels - they belong in schools
* Consumers have the right to know that products they buy aren't made with the sweat, blood and tears of children
* And we must independently monitor employers to ensure they're following the laws.
* For the past seven years, Rugmark has been fighting hard for these principles, -- rescuing hundreds of children from virtual slavery -- sending them to school, where they belong -- and giving them hope for the future.
* But Rugmark can't eradicate abusive child labor alone.
3 * That's why I and so many of you have been working so hard to pass strong anti-child labor laws.
* We've had our share of victories.
* We recently ratified ILO Convention 182 which prohibits the worst forms of child labor.
* This is the first international treaty in history approved unanimously by every single member of the ILO.
* We've passed the Harkin Amendment as part of the Trade and Development Act of 2000.
* This amendment prohibits awarding trade preferences and duty-free access to the U.S. market to any country that hasn't implemented its commitments to eliminate the worst forms of child labor. -- This is one of the toughest anti-child labor provisions in history.
* Last year, we enacted a provision to permanently ban the importation of products made by forced or indentured child labor.
4 * And we're making good progress on a new and improved bill which I first introduced in 1998, - the CARE (Children's Act for Responsible Employment) Bill of 2001.
* This Bill is designed to help the 800,000 migrant child laborers who toil in the fields of large-scale commercial agriculture right here in America, - children who work at younger ages, - - for longer hours, -- exposed to more hazardous conditions than minors working in non-agricultural jobs.
* My bill would make sure that these kids have the same rights and legal protections as those working in non-agricultural jobs. -- I'll need your help to pass this bill during this Congress.
* Strong anti-child labor laws are important.
* But let me tell you, they're not worth the paper they're printed on if we don't invest the resources to enforce them -- and make sure that agencies like Treasury, Customs, and the U.S. Trade Representative do their jobs.
5 * This takes money. -- And it takes strong leadership from Congress and from our President.
* Unfortunately, the Bush Administration just doesn't seem to quite get it right now.
* Last I heard, the Administration is planning to cut our budget to fight abusive child labor abroad by 65% to 75%.
* Now, I'm hopeful that President Bush himself hasn't yet seen these details.
* I'm sure that once he does, he'll realize that this funding is important - not just for child laborers, -- but for our working men and women here in America who shouldn't have to compete with kids locked in factories abroad.
* So tonight, as we watch this film, let's renew our commitment to work together and fight harder than ever before to end abusive child labor.
* Let's go out and make some noise and let it be known that we believe that no child - here in America or abroad - should be left behind.
6 * And let's make it perfectly clear that we're not going to back down.
* I thank all of you for being here tonight.
* I commend you on your commitment to ending child labor exploitation.
* And I look forward to working with you in the future.
* An now, it's my pleasure to present "The Carpet Slaves: Stolen Children of India."
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(~tAJ~~% g /(itV\ / D~O U~cyc ~e~ D- 3 ^ S V-'C ~A< 7 (~ K/s \ \- / e7 I ,/1..r-. (OVK k/w)~D) 0I (V\~t~. 41 TOM HARKIN (202) 224-3254 IOWA TTY (202) 224-4633 Tom [email protected] COMMITTEES: AGRICULTURE APPROPRIATIONS WASHINGTON, DC 20510-1502 SMALL BUSINESS LABOR AND HUMAN RESOURCES March 1, 2001 Dear Colleague: On Wednesday, March 14' at 6:00 p.m., I will be hosting a special screening of the HBO/CINEMAX documentary film, The CarpetSlaves: Stolen Children of India in Dirksen 562. This film highlights the work of the RUGMAlK Foundation as a driving force behind the eradication of child labor in the hand knotted carpet industry. I am proud to serve on the Board of Directors for RUGMARK, a global nonprofit organization working to end child labor and offer educational opportunities to children in India, Nepal, and Pakistan. The CarpetSlaves, by award-winning filmmakers Kate Blewett and Brain Woods, exposes an extreme form of child slavery found in the carpet belt region of Northern India. The Film tells the story of a young boy, Huro, who was kidnapped at the age of six and found five years later during a dramatic rescue that turns up more than a dozen young boys in a carpet weaving facility outside of Varanasi, India. I hope your schedule will allow you to join me in previewing this film. If you are not available to attend, I encourage you to watch on Monday, March 26' at 7:00 p.m. when it premiers on the CINEMAX Reel Life series. To RSVP for the event or for additional information, please contact either Sarah Dietch or Bill Goold of my staff at 224-3254. Sincerely, Tom Harkin United States Senate TH/shd 150 FIRST AVENUE, NE 210 WALNUT ST. 131 E. 4TH ST. 350 WEST 6TH ST. 320 6TH ST. SUITE 370 733 FEDERAL BLDG. 314B FEDERAL BLDG. 315 FEDERAL BLDG. 110 FEDERAL BLDG. CEDAR RAPIDS, IA 52407-4884 DES MOINES, IA 50309 DAVENPORT, IA 52801 DUBUQUE, IA 52001 SIOUX CITY, IA 51101 365-4504 (319) (515) 2844574 (319) 322-1338 (319) 582-2130 (712) 252-1550 Febuary 23, 2001: - The Hon- Hillary Rodham Cinon ~U.SSenate .- ~B40-6DIirksen Building Washington,:D.C. 20510 Dear Senator Clinton Board of Diectors' D I am-writing athe suggestion of RUGMARK USA Board Member, Tom Harkin, to mvite you to Phars lHarvey speak atavery special event in mid-March in Manhattan: the-New Yorkpress-screeing of the Interational Labor.' documentary film The Carpet Slaves: Stolen Children oflndia Rights* Fund Carpet Saves. latest production of academy award-winnes- e Blettand Brian Woods tells the storyfof one.man's-search tfor his missing son against the backdrop of extreme poverty,- e gexpanding global trade and the efforts of inidividuals hoare- dedicatedto ending child servitude.' Right Fund' Blewett and Woods follow a trail that begins in aremote village in northeastem Idia. Chiilai, one Go ner father among thousands whose children have vanished from theregion, agonizes Ntioa Consumers.: over the loss- of League - his son; Hurd, who was kidnapped five years ago, at age six. With the help ofthe South Asian - Denue Iramfer .. Coaliton A Child Huro is found duirg a dramatic raid that turns up more than a Co-op Ameica -dozetyoung boys in a carpet weavmg-acility outside of Varanasi, India. .. Tom Harkin I aptSae bigliht the wrik of.60 orrgnaton, Tom Harkm, the RUGMARK Founfdaton as, a'- diiig- U.S.. Senate i .d eae oce behin ,heradicatib6 fcidlbri the c a-petp inuty. tGNEARK'is- a global nopofit Charre4Lyons - organization worig endc l andoffer educational 6 c US F~d.fr Npaand/Pakistan. Our wor includes prdu -cton monitoring -and cerifica~itionrrtining"'d;cto .UNrCEF -- and rehai porm fo''-mr i cidweavers,.ad a an as osum cr arenes& a q ttthe:..' Sen-.rd - 2 Sn.... dwa eed to buy childbr-re I believeiormer yo r aiix thR RUGMAR, asyu iieur Metrenbaum -- i Consumer Federation of America-.- Arme Mzarin The.r~ctor~veio e ohic wi pr on einvlave' effoat en cildalo Ma~esr h26 educati ii. ~i Mmpsi. Rug.- -in the! -~n'06r azn& uaof6referc iCorpora ion-,- - v '1iditntose. 1vimn~ ~le poorestof 'circumsanes. Fr this ± )' J1L G RUMA~ieagerto riephameOdegard-p Odegard Carpets r~fai kuijst ~enat o sig a , Washin6gton- press -scree nig.on. a c rl-att e D r se uli g -. frnat6: Chuk ote . - hsbaN w Y r s r~ i rtth Us .F n f r ere;a and rehbltto prgar o omrcudwaespamrezent. ndriigcntmdwrns arc - T 7 tJCEFie : buh Bo gu sky Advert4sing fr~r~c .Knowing yourlong-tading oiii~tt hl we~~fart' Nee toibu' lllbrfe.IbheeyuaefmlaaihRUMRa.o.Aq',mt6ivite-you t6itrduce-tle film and to be6c more involved i1n the6 'JaE Shemlan iie u Amalgamated Banicampaign pr ra nKtmadfbean 95 -to your availability.. James Slk Thkeeseowh or-.Cre lae" CarpetoSev be anhi ifh you wouldjon hcus forilpeiro this iiportantCo occasion. If ou acrequire 6,i frthe nximdetails,. ... Wewouldtbe e happy toprovi t . lince mid-Marct is coming Ri fast, wewould very muchi apreciato qriicgk resndse lor office. . c n Thanko orayoun. con deration. p r RUGMARKFoundation N 733 15t Street N.W., Suite 920 WWashington, D.C. 20008 E 202-347-4205 E 202-347-4885 U www.rugmark.org Date: 3/12/2001 2:38 PM Sender: "Marotta; Paul" For Immediate Release March 8, 2001 "CINEMAX REEL LIFE" SPECIAL THE CARPET SLAVES: STOLEN CHILDREN OF INDIA, EXPOSING THE BRUTAL PRACTICE OF CHILD SLAVERY, DEBUTS MARCH 26, EXCLUSIVELY ON CINEMAX At the beginning ot the 21st century, there are more slaves on earth than ever betore in human history. Many are young children who have been kidnapped trom their tamilies and torced to work in unspeakably brutal conditions until they die, or are no longer usetul. It is estimated that in India alone there are more than 300,000 enslaved children who have been kidnapped to work on products that end up being sold in the United States and the rest ot the world. Following one man's search tor his missing son, THE CARPET SLAVES: STOLEN CHILDREN OF INDIA exposes an extreme torm ot child slavery -- carpet making in Northern India ft when it debuts MONDAY, MARCH 26 (7:00-8:00 p.m. ET), exclusively on CINEMAX. The "CINEMAX Reel Lite" presentation is produced and directed by Brian Woods and Kate Blewett, whose previous credits include the EmmyR- and Peabody Award-winning "CINEMAX Reel Lite" documentary "The Dying Rooms," as well as the HBO documentary "Innocents Lost." . Other playdate: April 26 (6:40 a.m.). THE CARPET SLAVES: STOLEN CHILDREN OF INDIA is set against the backdrop ot intractable poverty, relentlessly expanding global trade, and the heroic ettorts ot people dedicated to eradicating child servitude and to rehabilitating its victims. It tollows a trail that begins in a remote village in northeastern India, where Chichai, one tather among thousands ot parents whose children have vanished, agonizes over the loss ot his son, Huro, kidnapped tive years ago at age six. Without the means to conduct a search on his own, he can only pray that Huro is still alive. With the guidance ot Ghuran Mahto, who works to tree India's child slaves, and the South Asian Coalition Against Child Servitude (SACCS), Chichai and the tilmmakers travel to the outskirts ot Varanai, a city in India's "carpet belt." Tipped-ott to Huro's possible whereabouts in . suspected slave master Munim Gupta's carpet-making operation, Woods and Blewett pose as carpet importers and meet with Gupta's sales reps. Soon atter, accompanied by the police, they take part in a dramatic raid on the loom owner's tacility, which turns up more than a dozen young boys. Incredibly, Huro is among those treed, and he is teartully reunited with his tather. Huro and his tellow captives had been torced to weave carpets trom 5:00 a.m. to midnight, locked indoors at all times, and beaten viciously it they didn't meet a quota or dared to complain. During the tour centuries ot the West Atrican slave trade, 13 million people were shipped across the Atlantic. The latest estimates are that at least twice as many are now enslaved around the world. Much ot today's slavery is well hidden: Many ot India's child carpet slaves labor undetected in homes and small buildings in rural villages, instead ot highly visible tactories or sweatshops. Child slavery is not just an Indian phenomenon. Protessor Kevin Bales, an advisor tor the United Nations Working Group on Contemporary Slavery, describes how the demand tor cheaper products and the lowering ot trade barriers has lead to exploitation ot those with little or no education and limited access to otticial intervention. This can easily include slavery, especially ot children who cannot hope to overpower their captors. Each year, $140 million worth ot hand-woven carpets are exported trom India's carpet belt, the majority going to the U.S. and Britain. Bales notes that the cheaper cost ot rugs made by slaves brings down prices tor all rugs. Consumers benetit, but are unaware ot the cruelty that made the bargain possible. Progress is being made. The UNICEF-backed organization Rugmark now distinctly labels carpets that are tree ot slave labor atter monitoring their production in the carpet belt around Varanai. By purchasing imported carpets with the Rugmark label, consumers deprive slave owners ot an immediate protit and raise awareness ot the worldwide struggle against child servitude. SACCS estimates that as many as nine out ot ten carpets that don't carry the Rugmark label may have been worked on by slaves. THE CARPET SLAVES: STOLEN CHILDREN OF INDIA is produced and directed by Brian Woods and Kate Blewett. For "CINEMAX Reel Lite": supervising producer, Nancy Abraham; executive producer, Sheila Nevins. Paul Marotta HBO, Media Relations [email protected] 1100 Avenue ot the Americas New York, NY 10036 (p) 212/512-1322 (t) 212/512-5517 This e-mail is intended only tor the use ot the addressees. Any copying, torwarding, printing or other use ot this e-mail by persons other than the addressees is not authorized. This e-mail may contain intormation that is privileged, contidential and exempt trom disclosure. It you are not the intended recipient, please notity us immediately by return e- mail (including the original message in your reply) and then delete and discard all copies ot the e-mail. Thank you. Received: trom mailsims2.senate.gov ([156.33.203.11]) by mailexc2.senate.gov with SMTP (IMA Internet Exchange 3.13) id 0003EF6E; Mon, 12 Mar 2001 14:35:47 -0500 Received: trom hbonyws0l.homebox.com (maill.hbo.com) by mailsims2.senate.gov (Sun Internet Mail Server sims.3.5.1999.07.30.00.05.p8) with SMTP id Return to Home Page .11ow RUGMARK is Helping I How RUGMARK Certification Works Background on Child Labor IRelated Links I RUGMARK Press I Information for Retailers Becoming a RUGMARK Importer I Purchasing a RUIGMARK Carpet ISupport RUGMARK Go to the Board About RUGMARK Greetings from of Directors List the Director RUGMARK Foundation - USA is working to eradicate child labor and supports education programs for former child workers. The RUGMARK Foundation, with locations in Germany, India, Nepal, Pakistan, Canada and the U.S., recruits carpet producers and importers to make or sell carpets that are free of child labor, and encourages the producers to employ adults at the legal minimum wage instead. By agreeing to adhere to strict guidelines for carpet production, and by permitting random RUGMARK@ inspections of carpet looms, producers receive the right to put the RUGMARK@ label on their carpets. The RUGMARK@ label guarantees the carpet was not made by children and that a contribution has been made to educate former child carpet weavers. RUGMARK is a global program under the umbrella of RUGMARK International, which has registered the RUGMARK name and logo as a trademark. India, Nepal, and Pakistan are the three carpet-producing countries currently participating in the RUGMARK program. 3/9/2001 1:06 PM template http://www.rugmark.org/help/index.html Return to Home Page I How RUGMARK is Helping I How RUGIARK Certification Works Background on Child Labor | Related Links RUGMARK Press Information for Retailers Becoming a RUGMARK Importer Purchasing a RUGMARK Carpet Support RUGMARK How RUGMARK is Helping RUGMARK Stories of Hope Meen Bhadur, India Before RUGMARK inspectors liberated Meen Bhadur, he spent his childhood weaving carpets 14 hours a day, at first for no pay, and then for meager wages that he sent to his widowed mother. Now Meen excels in his sixth grade class, maintains an active interest in sports, and studies music on the side. RUGMARK pays for his tuition, books, room, and board. Maya Tamang, Nepal At the age of nine, Maya Tamang was taken by her uncle from the Nepali village where she was born to Kathmandu to work as a carpet weaver. For nearly five years, Maya worked seven days a week, from 6:00am to 10:00 or 11:00pm, sleeping on the factory floor at night. In 1994, Maya was released from the factory and became one of the first children to be admitted into RUGMARK's Program for Displaced Carpet Children. Her teachers say that while she was withdrawn, shy, and obviously overworked at first, Maya is now cheerful, active, and quickly progressing in school. Fatima Ahmed, Pakistan Thirteen year-old Fatima Ahmed is a hard-working student in the middle school in her village near the India-Pakistan border. Because RUGMARK exporter Chaman Masih does not hire children and has built a school in his native village, Fatima's father earns a good wage weaving carpets and she is able to study. Other children in the same village are also hard-working, but not at school. They toil in dark carpet loomsheds instead, because the carpet dealers they produce for try to save costs by hiring children instead of adults. 3/9/2001 1:06 PM template http://www.rugmark.org/certify/index.html Return to Home Page IHow RUGMARK is Helping I How RUGMARK Certification _ Works Background on Child Labor I Related Links IRUGMARK Press IInformation for Retailers Becoming a RUGMARK Importer I Purchasing a RUGMARK Carpet Support RUGMNARK T1 V How RUGMARK Certification Works To be certified by RUGMARK, carpet-makers sign a legally binding contract to: - produce carpets without child labor; - register all looms/factories with the RUGMARK Foundation - allow access to looms/factories for unannounced inspections. Carpet factories are monitored on a regular basis through regular inspections. Inspectors are trained and supervised employees of the RUGMARK Foundation. Each labeled carpet is individually numbered, enabling its origin to be traced as a protection against counterfeits. Nonprofit child welfare organizations also have access to certified factories to ensure that no children are employed.. In the U.S., only licensed RUGMARK importers are legally permitted to sell carpets carrying the RUGMARK@ label. 3/9/2001 1:06 PM template http://www.rugmark.org/background/index.html Return to Home Page I How RUGMARK is Helping I How RUGMARK Certification Works Background on Child Labor I Related Links IRUGMARK Press Information for Retailers Becoming a RUGMARK Importer I Purchasing a RUGMARK Carpet Support RUGMARK Click Here to Learn More About Background on Child Labor and . the Carpet Child Labor Caws Pao Industry The Horrible Reality of Child Labor It's hard to believe in these modern times, but children still toil under terrible conditions, making the hand-knotted carpets that are sold in the U.S. and Europe. Contrary to popular belief, these children are employed illegally and rarely receive adequate wages for their labor. Instead, they are exploited, receiving only a fraction of the money adults would receive for the same work. Carpet manufacturers continue to employ children for this very same reason; they are the main source of cheap labor. Children are incapable of forming unions, they are easily intimidated, and they can not demand decent wages. Demand for child labor is so high that children are often sold by desperate parents. The children are then forced to work long hours, day and night, unable to attend school, and often subject to abuse and malnourishment. This perpetuates a cycle of poverty since most of these children never get the education and training needed to obtain a livable wage. Throughout their adult lives, they live on a subsistence basis and remain desperate enought to send their own children off to work, repeating the cycle. I of 1I 3/9/2001 1:07 PM BACKGROUND ON RUGMARK About RUGMARK Foundation RUGMARK is the global nonprofit organization working to end child labor and offer educational opportunities to children in India, Nepal, and Pakistan. It does this through loom and factory monitoring, consumer labeling, and running schools for former child workers. RUGMARK recruits carpet producers and importers to make and sell carpets that are free of child labor. By agreeing to adhere to RUGMARK's strict no child labor guidelines, and by permitting random inspections of carpet looms, producers receive theoright to put the RUGMARK@ label on their carpets. The RUGMARK@ label provides the best possible assurance that a carpet is not produced by children. The label also verifies that a portion of the carpet price is contributed to the rehabilitation and education of former child weavers. RUGMARK is a global program under the umbrella of RUGMARK International, which has. registered the RUGMARK name and logo as a trademark. India, Nepal, and Pakistan are the three carpet-producing countries currently participating, in the RUGMARK program. Labeled carpets are sold in Europe and North America. How RUGMARK Certification Works To be certified by RUGMARK, carpet-makers sign a legally binding contract to: - - produce carpets without illegal child labor; - register all looms with the RUGMARK Foundation; - allow access to looms for unannounced inspections. Carpet factories are. monitored regularly. Inspectors are trained and supervised by RUGMARK. Each labeled carpet is individually numbered, enabling its origin to be traced back to the loom on which it was produced. This protects against counterfeit labels. Nonprofit child welfare :organizations, not affiliated with RUGMARK,-also have access-to RUGMARK certified factories to ensure that no children are employed. In the U.S., only licensed RUGMARK importers are legally permitted to sell carpets carrying the RUGMARKO label. Advantages to Selecting Carpets with a RUGMARK@ Label Consumers and Importers of RUGMARK carpets take pride in knowing that: V Their carpets were not made by children V The looms on which their carpets were made are registered with RUGMARK ,RUGMARK inspectors have open access to the factories where their carpets were made / A portion of the price they paid goes to establishing rehabilitation centers and schools for former carpet children I They are helping to bring attention to the disturbing problem of child labor in the carpet industry RUGMARK Foundation 733 15' Street N.W. Suite 920 Washington, D.C. 20005 202-347-4205 (phone) 202-347-4885 (fax) www.rugmark.org (web) * * FACTS AND FIGURES * RUGMARK inspectors rescue on average one child carpet weaver per week (RUGMARK Foundation USA, February 2001) * More than 2 million carpets carrying the RUGMARK label have been sold in Europe and North America since 1995 (RUGMARK International, January 2001) * RUGMARK carpets are sold in approximately 300 stores throughout the U.S. (RUGMARK USA, February 2001) * Nearly one million children are "employed" in the hand-knotted carpet industry worldwide (RUGMARK After One Year, 1996) * The U.S. constitutes the largest market for hand-knotted carpets, importing $422,549,000 in 1998 (U.S. Department of Commerce, 1999) *. 80 percent of consumers would avoid businesses identified with unfair labor practices. (Marymount University, November 1999) India * Since 1995, 1,334 children have been liberated from carpet looms by RUGMARK India (RUGMARK Foundation India, February 2001). * Four RUGMARK schools currently provide education to 1,172 former child weavers (RUGMARK Foundation India, February 2001) * 230 Indian exporters, representing approximatelyl5 percent of all registered carpet looms, are licensed under RUGMARK (RUGMARK Foundation India, February 2001) Pakistan * RUGMARK Pakistan issued its first labels in 1999. Two-thirds of the 20,154 registered looms have already been inspected and approved for certification (RUGMARK Society Pakistan, February 2001) RUGMARK Pakistan operates three schobis and is affiliated with additional eight, providing education to 744 children from carpet producing communities. (RUGMARK Society Pakistan, February 2001) * Approximately 75 percent of Pakistan's carpet weavers are girl children under the age of 14. ("Research on Girl Child Weavers in the-Carpet Industry", RUGMARK Society Pakistan, 1999) Nepal * Since 1996, 407 carpet children have been rescued for RUGMARK rehabilitation (Nepal RUGMARK Foundation, 2001) * 188 children attended RUGMARK schools in 2000 (Nepal RUGMARK Foundation, 2001) * . Manufacturers representing 65 percent of Nepal's carpet exports are certified by RUGMARK. (Nepal RUGMARK Foundation, 2001) * The estimated number of Nepali child weavers is 1,800 (UNICEF, 1999) RUGMARK Foundation 733 1 5 1h Street N.W. Suite 920 Washington, D.C. 20005 202-3474205 (phone) 202-347-4885 (fax) www.rugmark.org (web) RuLAWS PROHIBITING CHILD LABOR International Conventions Minimum Age Convention 138 (C138), 1973 Adopted by the International Labour Organization (ILO) in 1973, C138 binds ratifying countries to pursue a national policy for the abolition of child labor and to progressively raise the minimum age for employment or work to a level, consistent with the fullest physical and mental development of young persons. This minimum age should be 15 years, or the reached age by the completion of compulsory schooling. According to the convention, the minimum age for work that is likely to jeopardize the health, safety or. morals of young persons is 18. C138 has been ratified by 64 countries. Worst Forms of Child Labour Convention 182 (C182), 1999 On June 17, 1999 the ILO adopted Convention 182, which calls for immediate and effective measures to prohibit and eliminate the worst forms of child labor. "Child" applies to all persons under the age of 18. "The worst forms of child labor" refers to child slavery, forced labor, trafficking, debt bondage, serfdom, prostitution, pornography, and forms of work which harm the health, safety or morals of children. To date ILO C182 has been ratified by 33 countries. The U.S. was the third country to ratify this Convention in December 1999. U.S. Laws Prohibiting the Importation of Goods Made with Child Labor The Sanders Amendment to the Trade Act of 1930 The Tariff Act of 1930 prohibits the importatioh of products made with "forced or indentured labor" into the U.S. In 1997 the Sanders Amendment clarified that this applies to products made with "forced or indentured child labor". The Generalized System of Preferences .(GSP) Enacted in 1974,-the GSP program authorizes approximately 4,284 products from 140 developing countries, including India, Nepal and Pakistan, to enter the U.S. market duty-free. In 1984 new provisions took away U.S. trade preferences from countries.that systematically deny internationally recognized workers' rights. These rights include:. freedom of association; the right to organize and bargain collectively; a prohibition of any form of forced-or compulsory labor; and acceptable conditions of work with respect .to minimum wages, hours of work, and occupational safety and health. Trade and Development Act of 2000 This Act, signed into law in May 2000, affords special trade benefits to Sub-Saharan Africa and the Caribbean Basin Countries. Section 411 clarifies that the ban on articles made with forced and/or indentured labor under the Trade Act of 1930 now includes goods made with forced and/or indentured child labor. Section 412, worst forms of child labor, denies U.S. trade preferences to countries that fail to meet and effectively enforce the standards established by ILO C182. RUGMARK is currently the only certification program established to assure that carpets were not made with illegal child labor in India, Nepal, or Pakistan. RUGMARK USA 733 15' Street N.W. Suite 920 Washington, DC 20005 202-347-4205 (phone) 202-347-4885 (fax) www.rugmark.org (web) RU RUGMARK STORIES OF HOPE Meen Bhadur, India Before RUGMARK inspectors liberated Meen Bhadur, he spent his childhood -weaving carpets 14 hours a day, at first for no pay, and then for meager wages that he sent to his widowed mother. Now Meen excels in his sixth grade class, maintains an active interest in sports, and studies music on the side. RUGMARK pays for his tuition, books, room, and board. Maya Tamang, Nepal At the age of nine, Maya Tamang was taken by her uncle from the Nepali village where she was born to Kathmandu to work as a carpet weaver. For nearly five years, Maya worked seven days a week, from 6:00am to 10:00 or 11:00pm, sleeping on the factory floor at night. In 1994, Maya was released from the factory and became one of the first children to be admitted into RUGMARK's Program for Displaced Carpet Children. Her teadhers say that while she was withdrawn, shy, and obviously overworked at first, Maya is now cheerful, active, and quickly progressing in school. Tasleem, Pakistan Ten-year-old'Tasleem starting weavig alongside her two older sisters when she was eight. Until she was offered the chance to attend a new RUGMARK school in her community, she was destined to a life as an uneducated weaver. Now Tasleem studies Urdu and English and enjoys going to school. Her life will be different than the other girl child weavers of Pakistan who typically do not have the chance to go to school. RUGMARK Foundation 733 15th Street N.W. Suite 920 Washington, D.C. 20005 202-347-4205 (phone) 202-347-4885 (fax) www.rugmark.org (web) QUOTES "Trade is not an end in itself, but a means toward attaining more economic justice, social responsibility, and environmental sustainability around the world... RUGMARK enables importers and consumers to make purchases that create a more just international trading system.' -- U.S. Rep. Bernard Sanders (I-Vt.) "Poverty is not an excuse for child labor. Poverty perpetuates child labor and child labor perpetuates poverty...RUGMARK puts an end to this cycle by taking children out of factories and putting them into schools, so that they may have more dignified economic opportunities as adults. Terry Collingsworth, General Counsel, International Labor Rights Fund "I was very impressed with the confidentiality of RUGMARK'S loom inspections. Each morning the inspectors are handed sealed envelopes containing that day's loom destination -- no time is available for 'tipping off. Six teams of two people visit eight villages five days a week." -- Kate Blewitt, Academy Award winning documentary film-maker "{RUGMARK} is a great opportunity to say 'I've found the perfect rug, and it's not made under sweatshop conditions." -- Marsha Marine, President, Minnesota American Society of Interior Designers "There is a need for developed countries to make consumers and importers aware of their roles in the exploitation of children in the Third World." -- Maj. Gen. S. Sondhi, Executive Director, RUGMARK - India "One of the most memorable days of my life is an inspection trip to the village of Kahara... Nine bonded children were released and brought to the RUGMARK Balashrya Rehabilitation Center. Now they are striving for a better future and enjoying their childhood." -- Dr. Vinod Kumar Singh, Assistant Inspection Supervisor, RUGMARK - India "My education will help me to do many things in life. Now I can have a dream to go to college. It has changed the life of my family forever." -- Rabina, student at Darinwala Girl's High School, RUGMARK Pakistan affiliate school "What has happened fin Nepal's carpet industry} is a turn-around. Now they are seeing RUGMARK as a marketing opportunity." -- Christian Salazar-Volkmann, German Committee for UNICEF "...economic progress built with the thin, weak hands of children can never be the future of Asia...forcing children to discontinue their education and making them -enterthe dangerous labor market robs us of our future." -- Kim Dae Jung, President, South Korea (September 1998 speech) RUGMARK Foundation 733 15 'b Street N.W. Suite 920 Washington, D.C. 20005 202-347-4205 (phone) 202-347-4885 (fax) www.rugmark.org (web) 03/05/01 13:41 FAX 2023474100 ILRF [a 01 RUGMARK FOUNDATION - U.S.A. 733 15rh Strer N.W Suite 920 Washington, DC 20005 U.S.A. Tel: (202) 347-4205 Fax: (202) 3474885 TO: Bill Goold and Sarah Dietch 2 1 3& j FM: Nina Smith RE: March 14h "Carpet Slaves" Event DT: March 5, 2001 Per your request, below is a brief outline for our March 14 event, as well as some of the points that we'd like mentioned in Sen. Harkin's talk. Thanks. Event Schedule 6:00pm Reception 6:30pm Senator Harkin introduces film 6:35pm Film 7:30pm Q & A with Filmmakers, Brian Woods and Kate Blewett, Nina Smith, RUGMARK USA moderated by Terry Collingsworth. 8:00pm Closing Points to be raised in Senator flarkin's talk * Acknowledge Brian Woods and Kate Blewett of True Vision for making the film and HBO for producing it * General overview of child labor situation. * Since 1995, RUGMARK has been responsible for preventing tens of thousands of children off of carpet looms. More than 2,000 of these children have been enrolled in RUGMARK schools in India, Nqpal, and Pakistan * In the U.S., ten carpet importers have signed onto the RUGMARK program. These companies are the most forward thinking representatives of an industry that is still largely opposed to RUGMARK's independent monitoring, which is proven to be the best possible assurance against child labor. * Special acknowledgement for Sen. Harkin's fellow RUGMARK board member, Stephanie Odegard, who appears in the film and who's company, Odegard Carpets, was the first to join RUGMARK USA in 1997. She has worked tirelessly to help transform the carpet industry into one that helps, rather than harm children and to help launch RUGMARK in the United States. Ouestions * Should someone from Sen. Harkin's office (Bill?) participate in the Q&A? * Who is organizing the wine & cheese reception? An Affiliare ofRUGMARK INTERNATIONAL Draft #1:3-8-2001 CAPITOL HILL FORUM ON ABUSIVE CHILD LABOR: "FROM AWARENESS-RAISING TO SUSTAINABLE PROBLEM-SOLVING" MAY 10, 2001 HART SENATE OFFICE BUILDING - NINTH FLOOR Steering Committee: Bill Goold, Sarah Dietch, and Nienke Grossman, Office of U.S. Senator Tom Harkin (224-3254) Jo Becker, Human Rights Watch - Child Advocacy Director (212-216-1236) David Strauss, Association of Farmworker Opportunity Programs - Executive Director (703- 528-4141 X101) Darlene Adkins, Child Labor Coalition Coordinator (835-3323) Diane Mull, Creative Associates International (202-966-5804 X120) Helen Toth and Eric Rubin, American Federation of Teachers (202-879-4400 X4683) ? ---- National Education Association (202-822-7300) Kevin Appleby and Dan Misleh---- U.S. Catholic Conference (202-541-3190) ? ---- U.S. Council for International Business (202-371-1316) Paul Petersen, A Minor Consideration --- Executive Director (310-532-1345) Simon Billenness - Senior Research Analyst, Trillium Asset Management (617-423-6655) Jonathan Lickerman/ Nikki Daruwala, The Calvert Group (301-657-7064) ? ---- Children's Defense Fund (202-662-3520) ? ---- American Academy of Pediatrics (202-347-8600) Burns Weston, University of Iowa Center for Human Rights (850-349-9338) Laurence Clements, University of Iowa Labor Center (319-335-4144) Building Components for Proceedings: * NGO Action Plan * Children in the Fields...... Worst Forms in the U.S. * Child Soldiers/Child Prostitution * Unions, Businesses, NGOs Steeping Up Possible Speakers: * Mike Farrell, Chairman of Human Rights Watch/California * Kailash Satyarthi, Global March Against Child Labor * Juan Samoveia - " Child Labor as a Window on Broad-Based, Sustainable Development * John Sweeney, President of AFL-CIO * farmworker children and families * Youth leaders and teachers * young actors/actresses plus Iowans Paul Petersen and Shelley Fabares Page two Tentative Program: Welcome and Opening Plenary Remarks - U.S. Senator Tom Harkin (1989 vs. 2001) New Tools in U.S. and International Law: Track Record and Results * Trade and Development Act of 2000 (USTR State, and DOL spokesmen) * Tariff Act of 1930 as amended (Treasury Department and Customs Service) * ILO Convention #182 on Worst Forms of Child Labor (DOL /ILO) * Amendments to U.S. Child Labor Laws since 1990 (DOL) New Programmatic Tools: Track Record: and Results * IPEC (DOL/ILO) * New bilateral education program and interface with pre-existing programs (DOL/AID) * Executive order on U.S. procurement (DOL/GSA) * New school feeding program (USDA/World Food Program) * World Bank and the IFIs Possible Special Features/Presentations * Samoveia and Satyarthi on Child Labor as Window on Sustainable Development * Youth Activism - New Hearts and Minds Applied to an Old, Entrenched Problem * Organized Labor and Business Stepping Up to the Challenge (Sweeney, Niles, Feldman, Chase, and Noonan Unfinished Business A. The Domestic Challenge - NGO Recommended Action Plan on #182 Compliance (1) Children in the Fields (2) Anti-sweatshop - joint liability (3) Adolescents working in entertainment and sports industries B. The International Challenge (1) UN Protocols on Child Soldiers and Child Prostitution and Drug Trafficking (2) Extra-territoriality and the WTO Dilemma (3) More Resources, Better Enforcement, Best Practices Closing Remarks ----- U.S. Senator Tom Harkin Launching and Reception of "Raise The Children" Committee RUGMARK Foundation USA Nina Sinith, Director 733 151 Street N.W., Suite 920 'Nashington, D.C. 20005 202-347-4205 (phone) 202-347-4885 (fax) ninajii erois.com (e-rnail) Visit our website at ww.rugmark.org design Ideals Does Good Design Require Child Sacrifice? but the school is a great labyrinth with- from ten, twelve, even sixteen hours at in, and we found ourselves ricocheting the looms; tiny, dimly lit, dusty facto- from one door to the next.. ries opening onto the street; children RUGMARK, a Washington, D. C.- huddled together, peering at the cam- based organization fighting to end child era. But isn't this a necessary evil? I labor in the carpet industry, has been thought. The demand for hand-knotted. picking up steam in Europe and is now carpets is exploding and only the nim- getting underway in the U. S., bringing ble fingers of these small children can in the JFK School, Harvard's School of pull it off. Kind of an obscene thought, Public Health, and your humble maga- but it went through my head. I imag- 0 zine. An auspicious assembly! But ined the goddess of design devouring where in the groves of academe was it an annual sacrifice of little girls, starting taking place? Eventually, breathlessly, we found our The estimated number of Nepali seats, each one sporting its own micro- child carpet laborers ranges from phone, making me feel like a UN dele- 3,000 to 150,000. Since 1995. 370 0 gate. Now in a more studious mood, I carpet children have been rescued reviewed a RUGMARK press release. In and placed into RUGMARK rehabil- Pakistan, said the release, 75 percent of itation. 4.' weavers are young girls. The RUG- MARK office there began inspecting with their tiny, dexterous fingers, all for E looms and labeling carpets in 1999. the sake of a rug. But I learned from 6. (a While the Pakistani industry is resisting the panelists that it's pure myth about C RUGMARK's standards, the organiza- needing children's small fingers. In real- tion has just signed up its largest carpet ity, it takes a strong adult to make a exporter. Worldwide, over 2 million car- lasting knot. pets bearing the RUGMARK label have . At the end of the "class," I gathered been sold. In the United States, RUG- my notebooks and headed to my cozy, C MARK and carpet manufacturers like tribally-carpeted home. Had we been E Stephanie Odegard of Odegard Carpets assigned homework on what we had learned, I would start off by saying Estimates of the number of chil- what every good designer knows by E dren working in Pakistan's carpet heart: for the design world to be truly industry ranges from 120,000 to 1 beautiful, it needs to be beautiful with- million. RUGMARK Pakistan is in as well as without. affiliated with 8 schools and has And it's with this in mind that I elostwere and actually very excited, a little established 2 RUGMARK schools, would like to welcome Nina Smith W running around providing education to more than of RUGMARK to the Floorcovering Harvard Square that 600 children. Trade Day to be held here at the starry night. We were looking for the Boston Design Center on March 22 seminar we were cosponsoring on child and Nasser Rhamanan of Masterlooms (see the special brochure on page 32 labor in the rug industry being hosted at have pioneered a way to get kids out of of this issue for details). Stephanie Harvard's John F. Kennedy School of these factories. Odegard's carpets can be found at Government. The campus looks decep- Now a panelist was showing slides: Steven King's showroom here at the tively straightforward along JFK Street, 5-year-old hands permanently crippled Design Center. -Louis Postel 80 DESIGN TIMES MARCHIAPRIL 2001 Design Times, October/November 1999 HELLO HOLLY WEAVING OUT CHILD LABOR "Miami designers miss the convenience "While getting ready to launch the ties at the village level for children. and luxury of the old Design District Rugmark initiative outside of Varanasi, Money we give as Rugmark members location," says designer Holly Hunt, I saw children literally chained to the goes to schooling in Nepal, which is the who is opening a new 2o,oo-square looms. I also saw malnourished children most important thing." Importers and foot showroom on Second Avenue. Her working by candlelight at night," says exporters of Rugmark rugs must donate new neighbors include ICF, Knoll, and Terry Collingsworth, general counsel for a percentage of sales to the foundation. Dilmos. After all, "Miami is hot," the International Labor Rights Fund. "It is a great opportunity to say, 'I've exclaims Hunt. Thanks to the Rugmark Foundation, found the perfect rug, and it's not made HOLLY HUNT 3833 NORTHEAST SECOND AVe., "these children are now properly nour- under sweatshop conditions,"' says MIAMI, FLA., 305-571-2012 ished and at school," he says. This non- designer Marsha Marine, president of -S. JIt THOMPSON profit formed in 1994 in response to the Minnesota American Society of abusive treatment-of child laborers in Interior Designers. "I use rugs for both the carpet industry. Rugmark sponsors aesthetic and value reasons, but the programs for these children and uses its Rugmark label adds to that, and it brings logo, a smiling rug, to identify hand-knot- a smile to the dient's face." ted carpets made without exploitation. THE RUGMARK FOUNDATION, 733 15TH ST. Rugmark's efforts are especially sig- NORTHWEST, SUITE 920, WASHINGTON, D.C., nificant in the United States, the world's 202-347-4205 -- GWEN WILAMS second-largest Oriental rug market. "Calls are coming into Washington for informatioO about dealers who carry Rugmark carpets," says president and creative director of Odegard, Inc., Stephanie Odegard. - In addition to runnringthe largest company that imports -Rugmark Nepal carpets in the U.S., Odegard also serves on the foundation's board of directors. "I arn interested in creating opportuni- I 24 The Nation. December 6, 1999 EFFECTIVE PROTEST EFFORTS RANGE FROM COMIC BOOKS TO BOYCOTTS. We Can Fight, We Can Win Sarah Anderson and John Cavanagh with Thea Lee .There is nothing inevitable about the current direction of glob- jobs. While UPS dominates the US market for small-package alization. Yes, corporations have used their tremendous delivery, the firm is more vuberable in Europe, where it faces power to shape many of the rules of the road for globalization stiff competition. UPS workers in England, Belgium, Germany, to meet their own narrow interests. In the nineties they have the Netherlands and France supported the US workers by carrying escalated their efforts with sweeping new rules at the local, out sympathy strikes, leafleting and other actions. According to national and global levels to enhance their mobility across borders. then-Teamster international representative Andy Banks, "En- And yet in the United States and elsewhere, this decade has also lightened self-interest was the key. European UPS workers and been one of growing resistance to global cor- their unions reasoned that if the 185,000 porations. Even among the elite stalwarts of striking Teamsters could not stop the part- trade and investment liberalization, the long- QP time, subcontracting mentality of the com- standing free-market consensus appears to be pany, what could a few hundred or a few unraveling. Except for the rigid IMF and US thousand workers hope to achieve in the Treasury Department, two sets ofpro-global- smaller UPS European operations?" During ization academic and political leaders have the strike, unions also worked to block UPS broken away. One remains committed to lib- deliveries in India, the Philippines and Spain. eralization of trade flows but, in light of the global financial crisis, calls for controls on Shareholder Power short-term capital flows. The other calls for Members of the Interfaith Center on Corpo- abolition of the IMF, arguing that it condones rate Responsibility, an association of nearly reckless lending by bailing out investors. 275 religious denominations, submitted 194 The challenge for the future will be to shareholder resolutions in one recent year push alternative agendas through this crack to press for corporate accountability in the in the consensus. Central to these efforts is areas of the environment, treatment of work- the belief that trade and investment should ers and other subjects. For example, in 1995 not be ends in themselves but tools for pro- the Benedictine Sisters of Boerne, Tekas, tmoting ideals idichiii euality democracy, The cover of acomic book produced by the filed a shareholder resolution with Alcoa nna cnalen god jobs, a clean environment.and healthy Centrade Estudias ml shos requesting that the company pay its Mexi- communities. The goal is to shift from an load nd ask can workers adequate wages. With support emphasis on exports based on the plunder of resources and the from [CCR and the Coalition for Justice in the Maquiladoras, exploitation of workers to sustainable economic activity that two Alcoa workers confronted CEO Paul O'Neill at the com- roots capital.locally and nationally. pany's annual meeting. At first defensive, O'Neill later took steps Now is the time for the citizens' backlash to become the to improve conditions and increase wages by 20 percent: "frontlash" for a new global economy. Unions, environmental groups and other citizens' organizations are demanding a place Voter Power at the negotiating table to craft new rules to guide globalization. Citizens in several countries have expressed their resistance to And they are taking direct action to make their feelings known. corporate-driven globalization in the voting booth..For example, in Mexico in 1997, opposition parties critical of the ruling party's Worker Power economic policies gained control of the lower house of Congress, In the late nineties, a reinvigorated US labor movement has in- and opposition leader Cuauht6moc CArdenas was elected mayor creased its efforts in international solidarity work. A prime ex- of Mexico City. As the head of Mexicos largest opposition party ample is the successful resolution of the 1997 Teamsters strike during the NAFTA debate, Cbrdenas was a strong advocate for an against the United Parcel Service, in reaction to UPS's plans to alternative approach to globalization, stressing that trade "must shift from full-time to lower-paying, part-time and temporary be an instrument of development, not an end in itself" Consumer Power .Sarah Anderson is afellow and John Cavanagh is the director of the been to reward corporations employ- Institute for Policy Studies in Washington, DC. Cavanagh is also One consumer strategy has firms to identify chairman ofthefinancial crisis committee ofthe International Forum ing "good" business practices by allowing such on Globalization. Thea Lee is assistant director for international eco- their products with a label. The Rugmark campaign, for example, nomics in the public policy department ofthe AFL-CIO. This article is awards a special label to firms that insure that their employees are adapted fmm theirforthcoming book, Field Guide to the Global Econ- adults paid at least the local mini mum wage. Manufacturers that omy (New Press). join Rugmark consent to surprise visits by Rugmark inspectors December 6, 1999 The Nation. The Nation. 25 and local human rights and child advocacy groups. Rugmark also works with US and European importers to provide funding for the education of former child workers in the rug industry In the Unit- ed States the campaign is coordinated by the Rugmark Founda- tion, housed at the International Labor Rights Fund. I.uiRa Quies 745151.t Nissho lwai 1 81,932 Student Power 3, Germany53 Nippon Tel&Tel 7,019 On more than seventy-five campuses, students have been nego- tiating with their schools to ban the purchase of products bearing 5. United Kingdom 1,271,710 t. the school logo from factories that violate labor rights. At a 5,482 number of these universities, students have built support for 7. Chi72,037 such a ban by staging fashion shows featuring clothes made in sweatshops. As the models parade down the runway, an an- .canada nouncer describes the.conditions under which the clothes were British Petroleum 71,175 made. The first school to adopt such a code was Duke University, 11.South Korea which now forbids suppliers from using child labor and requires Venezuela 67,316 them to maintain a safe workplace, pay at least minimum wage, recognize the right to form a union and allow independent plant 31.1sr 63. New Zealand 64,999 monitoring. Duke students are continuing to press for an expan- sion of the code 375,72 65. to require suppliers to pay a living wage. Masushita ElectricI d. 64310 People Power 7. Argentina 322730 5. Peru 62431 In 1994, the fiftieth anniversary of the World Bank and IMF, citizens' groups from all over the world organized a "Fifty Years 63,08 6Mobil 59978 Is. Enough" Campaign. In the United States, it has involved more than 200 environmental, development, faith-based, labor 4,53 71. AanzWodwide. 55,397 and policy organizations. Congress responded to their demands by restricting funding for the agencies until they improved dis- 181,46 closure, environment and resettlement policies, and by requiring 73. Czech Republic 5.9 that the United States use its voting power in the World Bank 3, 761 New171,401ZaAl&T 64, to promote internationally recognized workers' rights. . Another mass movement is Jubilee 2000, a coalition of reli- 11 IThand 157,63 77. Honda gious and secular groups that has deritanded cancellation of much Motor i 6 of the debt owed by the poorest countries. Jubilee draws its inspi- 33 MtihonKongin ration from the biblical book ofLeviticus, which describes aYear 4. 7' Unilever 49,479 of Jubilee every fifty years in which social inequalities are recti- 21.135 fied, slaves are freed, land is returned to original owners and debts 81. NeIdndon are canceled. Jubilee 2000 coalitions exist in dozens of countries. Artist Power In Mexico, a superhero named "Superbarrio" fights against injus- 12659 85.huIMUnited Arab Emirates 4517 tice on behalfofthe poor. Wearing red tights, gold wrestling trunks and a flowing gold cape, Superbarrio is a frequent star ofpolitical 37. Exxon 97. Toshiba demonstrations. Under NAFTA, Superbarrio's heroics have taken him on many crusades across the border. Once he swept into Los 39 ree119,111 89. State Farm Insurance 4,5 Angeles to take water samples for toxic testing in Mexican labs (the local environmental group did not trust the results they were 41.Marubeni f Aqtaine getting frot the US government). Cartoonists have lent their artis- tic skills to.support educational efforts. A booklet by the Coalition 97,523 93.Tokyo Electric Power 43,017 for Justice in the Maquiladoras illustrates common workplace scenarios to help Mexican workers learn about their labor rights 45.Singapore DuPontAlln95z 41304 so they can more effectively defend themselves against abuses 41. arub ni 1 1,17 St.Elf quit ine;3,57 by the primarily US-owned corporations operating on the border. 43. MalaysiaR 97!2!1TkoEtI 47. Israel 91,965 97. Deutsche cP wr 401 Political theater has also proved an effective way of educating Bank 40778 and mobilizing people around globalization issues. For example, 49.Colombia Nepali villagers gather around boomboxes in tea shops to listen 8 1 NBen 39,945 to an audiocassette of a play about hydroelectric power, featuring one of Nepal's most I~ - - famous comedians. a lra'W"faam MO AINOR..,,, ISM and FnG j.ion 27.tm. Wlid Bank.VW 19Mjom-d?.9.p,~212-213. TIK WASiiiiWMiPOST TuawsAy. SEPFEILBER 30, 1997, Issues, Cbildd -7777777= Labor Debate By Don Oldenburg evea sma cildena all of them about 6 or 7 years old, l malnourished and deject- ed as they sit at their loom shed stitching a beautiful carpet-a high- quality rug that brings a high price in dhe United Slates. Terry Collingsworth witnessed the same disturbing scene many times during four years in India and Nepal. He vividly recalls the tormenting con- trast of desperate poverty painfully prducing resplendent humy. 'You could walk into the factories at will and see these children... looking like they could fall over at any second. Collngsworth says of these sweat shopswherechildrenare keptdayaaer day without their families, without schooling, without decent food and care. working long hours for a pittance. At the worst ones, supervisors used hot irons to sear shut the cuts on the children's fingers, caused by the end- less stitching, so they wouldn't bleed Madan Rain, 7, weaves a carpet In Uttar Pradesh statein Inim~e later was on the carpets. 1 saw children crying. rescued when antclid labor activists and police raided is smal ilage. wanting to get out of there, says Collingsworth, general counsel of the parents of these working children the century, as Itstruggled to develop International Labor Rights Fund, a enough so they could go to school itsownindustricaWhy shouldatcoun- District-based advocacy organization instead of going to the factory.' tries such as ladia and Brazil be al-. for werers' rights worldwide. 'No- One model ?sro m in India and lowed to 'nake their own struggle. body bothered to try to hide it.- Nepal that provides a positive alterna- toward economic development now? Many of the arguments trying to twe to the cycle of illiteracy. poverty 'Thatwouldbeadecentargumentif V make a case for child labor and sweat-- .andforced labor.is called "Rbgmark." there were indigent ndlan or Brazilihan shop industries today are the same Besides tagging carpets made without industries struggling to develop says ones us century ago to justf child labor with a Rugmark label, says Colnogsworth. But;mifact, the expkit- similar condiions in the United States. Collingsworth, it supports schools for ersare"wefestablished,parasi-demul- But nothing, Collingsworth insists, can children removed from the factories- tinational firns\and not shuggling Justify millions of children worldwide, and pays for their school clothes, books developing countries " some as young as 4 years old. being and one hot meal daily so the class- * Aren't those fighting to end these forced to work in brutal conditions to room is an option. labor practices 'closet protectionists produce clothing. carpes soccer balls, targeting exports out of sour grapes sports shoes, toys. and other products over lost U.S Jobs? If they really cared that U.S. consumers buy every day- knowingly about children in those countries, or unknowingly supporting children wouldn't they be crying out against the exploitation. Isaw lVe spend an awful lot of time crying, waning to get child labor in the 'informal sector,' responding cl~dg, ingwhere children work long hou's miak- to those rationalizations," out0811feO. ing tourist trinkets, Aomestically ca Collingsworth says of the usual "aren't of there. ,sumed foods, wood carvings, etc.? we helping the kids?' arguments. -Terry Collingswor th. 'We have no authority or ability to do "Even thoughtful people who are on International Labor Rights Fund much our libidut regulating the nonexport. side don't alw-ays understand the sector in a place like India," says..: issues.- Industry owners and elites of societ- Collingsworth. 'se only tool we have Collingsworth and other labor advo- ies where child labor flourishes 'could- is the marketplace-where we can try cates say the stock arguments used to nt care less if these kids go to school.' to use boycotts or regulatory mecha- gloss over child labor and sweatshop he says. 'Tey say these Ids were nisms... It's better to do whatyou can conditions include: meant to work they are the victims of than do nothing." a Arent we actually helping those chil- poverty. But poverty is not an excuse x What's wrong with free trade? Cant dren by buying products made by child for child labor. Poverty. perpetuates we let the global marketplace shape labor or in sweatshops? Arent their child labor and child labor perpetuates itself? meager wages keeping them and their poverty" As U.S Rep. Bernard Sanders (I-VL) families from starving? . Aren't some of these "unfortunates' said earlier this month when intouc 'We should be paying adults enough working inforced labor factoriesadsza ing to the House a bill that would to raise the family on, so that they're not ly paid comparably to professors and prohibit the importing of products dependent on &year-olds to bring home other professionals in those countries? made by children inbondage: 'Trade is the bacon," says Jeff Ballinger of Press Even if that were true, one major not an end in iel buta means toward for Change, a New Jersey-based con- difference is that sweatshops are often ataining more economic Justice, social sumer-education organization focused managed by terror.- says Ballinger responsibilit and environmentsas on labor rights. whose focus has been Nike's factories tainability in the United States and the Collingsworth says if the choice in Indonesia. Intimidation. 70-bour global economy .. What does it say were between working or starving. weeks, quota pressures, psychological about our-country that we have numer- he'd agree children would be better off and physical abuse--that's what sepa- ous import laws and consumer can- working. 'But those aren't the only rates Third World sweatshops from the paigns to protect endangered plants choices. With all of the resources of the university and other professional life. and animals, but we have no law or developed world and of the multination- . The United States used child-labor consumer campaigns to protect chil- al companies, we should be paying the and sweapshop practices at the turn of dren consigned to practical sLpery APRIL 17, 2000 VOL. 155 NO. 1S TIME BUSINESS THE POLITICS S F COFFEE Wake Up and Smell the Protest OAST STARBUCKSI FORL THE bgls hnrsrcuigt he in- Rtrendy coffee retailer, a public- equities between North and South," relations nightmare was brew- says Paul Rice, head of TrainsFair ing last week, courtesy of the USA, the certifying group. caffeinated mix of labor ac- Funded by the Ford Found ation, tivists, consumer groups and environ- TransFair USA is the newest mem- mentalists that brought us Seattle's ber of a decade-old nonprofit net- wTo protests. Campuses were mobi- work in 41 countries that mo nitors lized, press kits mailed, and protests coffee-growing practices and con- planned in 29 cities. An open letter to trols the Fair Trade-Certified label. Starbucks chairman Howard Schultz The movement, which began n Eu- was signed by the likes of Friends of rope, includes 300 democra tically the Earth, the Cincinnati Zapatista run cooperatives in Latin Am erica, Coalition and San Francisco's Harvey Asia and Africa that reprresent Milk Democratic Club. "The farmers 550,000 of the world's 4 million cof- who make you rich earn poverty fee growers. TransFair USA plans to wages," the letter said. "Sweatshops certify other imported foodstuffs, in- occur not only in the factory but also in the field." But just in time to avoid being tarred as the Nike of cosyer cafss, Starbucks, the nation's largest goucrmet- coffee company, caved last Fri- day, agreeing to launch a line of Fair Trade-Certified beans. The politically correctwcoffee is grown on small farm coopera- tives rather than large planta- tions. It sells for -a-minimum ofi.;..... $1.26 per lb.-which goes. di- rectly to the farmers rather than the middlemen, who often pay growers less than 50T per of r lb. The increase means that the approval: farmers, who hand-pluck their Starbucks will cofeesadcryhoffer economically benspolicarry tho w ecorct coffee mountain in 100-lb. sacks, can afford to send their children to school. cluding chocolate, tea and ban anas, "Fair Trade gets the benefit back to as is done in Europe. the family farmer," says Starbucks Starbucks, the first big U.S. re tailer vice president Dave Olsen, emerging to sign on, will promote its new offee from negotiations with activists., "It is beans this fall with in-store pc sters consistent with our values." and brochures and keep the pr(oduct It also reflects the growing muscle on the shelves in 2,000 outlets for at of the corporate-accountability move- least a year. Will the effort perc olate meat. From dolphin-free tuna, to thrugh the whole $18 billion U.S. old-growth-free lumber, to child- coffee industry? Global Exchang e, the labor-free carpets and sweatshop- San Francisco-based humnan-r ights free sneakers, environmental and so- group that organized the aborted cial concerns are invading the mar- protest is calling on companies such as ketplace as never before. Coffee, the Folgers and Maxwell House to ollow world's second most heavily traded suit. Warns Medea Benjamin, a Glob- commodity after oil, is the first food- al Exchange official: "Coffee wi thout stuff to be independently certified for the Fair Trade seal is very likely s weat- the U.S. market based on criteria of shop coffee. -By Margot Homb ower/ economic justice. "Our vision is noth- Ls Angeles TIME, APRIL 17,2000 89 *~JbJ~e16otii~'ip iO~; ~~(~o!~Z!U6JOlsQ1. 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'judo'" JeiposseLodw Wal n fluAosN Lit 1e s~ ~ Jw)H~~ ~ i ~'eiMOeAJ4q1 ~ ~ 'O Auewp~qs89~wooffi e~so -.opl 6!~ pip s_'ed.l6P8oPni euo A eww xo.166L U1 ao -s8d55 OOO'OL .oAO elSM eM ~o'SO0 j 'UO~sJ~dOeqi u Jo squo we BuspuJij swool~udAlejns ~ pe~n.o botseM -9seuna~l) uioradppeI5nU uepuiJO SUOoLPlOur.4s eurdpin: UaoipJdp oi rnnun I- U.a L661 'd490IND 'uaJPlIYD .spp 2-10A iqyfo awis ally Where We Stand By Albert Shanker, President American Federation of Teachers Knotted Rugs under which they are made. The traditional this week, forced many The murder of lqbal Masih,Americans a year ago to weapon used by people who want to protest eco- look at a problem they would have pre- nomic injustice is the boycott: Don't buy the ferred to avoid: child labor in devel- i product. But a boycott only punishes, and it often oping countries. Iqbal was a world-famous human punishes those who act responsibly as well as rights activist. He was also a young Pak- those who don't. istani boy whose mother had sold him to a rug An Indian child advocate named Kailash maker when he was four. Iqbal eventually freed Satyarthi had a better idea. He established a himself, and by the time he was murdered, at the nonprofit foundation that allows consumers to age of twelve, he had helped free 3,000 other identify and buy hand-knotted rugs that are not bonded child laborers. That is probably why he made with child labor. Rugmark, as the foun- .L was murdered. But many millions of children in dation is callil, inspects companies Pakistan, India, and other developing that apply nations for certification and vouches for the fact that continue to work as gemstone polishers, glass COISl erS they are not using child labor to make. their blowers, and makers of matches, fireworks, wi IX clothing and hand-knotted rugs, ble hand-knotted rugs. Inspectors also pay surprise often in condi- visits to Rugmark-certified companies to make tions that are unspeakable. to recC liZe sure they continue to abide by their commitment Children who knot rugs are crowded into to use adult labor only. Consumers filthy, poorly lit shops that have minimal venti- can recog- Rugmnadl rugs nize Rugmark rugs by a label that .lation for as only they will many as 16 hours a day, 7 days a by a Ia carry (see below). week. They are often chained be to their looms, Rugmark, which. and they risk being beaten or even killed if they that or is now two years old, has Lythey signed up and certified 15 percent try to escape. Many die anyway because of the compa- of the Will Ca nies producing hand-knotted rugs in India. A horrible conditions under which they work. number of others are moving toward certifica- Manufacturers consider youngchildren to be desirable tioihbut the process is complicated and many carpet mak- "employees" because they work hard and put up with pay ers are understandably hostile to the idea and conditions that adults of losing a cheap, would not tolerate. The chil- excellent, and plentiful supply of labor. So far, the total dren receive no more than a couple of cents a day for their production of Rugmark rugs has gone to Germany, where work; many get nothing. the country's largest mail order firm and several large department stores have agreed to carry them. But Rugmark and has recently opened up shop in Nepal, with the support of * Nepal, for example--have laws on the books nations-India 70 percent of the carpet manufacturers there. These rugs banning childof developing labor. Nevertheless, you hear will soon be available for import to the U.S. It's some people using up to Anumber hard-nosed economic argu- American consumers to start talking to ments to justify exploitation stores and catalog of children. They say that if companies that carry hand-knotted rugs. They should let child labor is what it takes to bolster-the economy in a the businesses know that they do not want-rugs developing country, that's made by the price the country has to pay. children, and they should urge them to put pressure on the And it's really nobody else's business anyway. But many importers they deal with. of these countries also have very high unemployment This coming week, the first Rugmark-certified among adults. Why shouldn't companies rugs hire adults so that imported to the U.S. will be auctioned parents can support their children off at a ceremony instead of having to sell commemorating the anniversary of Iqbal Masih's death them into bondage? last year. If American consumers do their However, we part, these rugs don't have to wait for the companies mak- should be the first of many. ing hand-knotted rugs to get religion (or for countries that are dragging their feet to start enforcing their child labor For mom information about the Rugmark campaign and the laws). These rugs are an important export item, and peo- availability of Rugmark-certified rugs, contact the Child Labor Coalition c/o the Nadional Consumers ple who buy them can have a big say about the conditions League, 1701 K St., N.W. Washington, DC 20006; tel. 202-835.3321 Cori.N o oMIheNtoa oamr ege 71KS. US Treasury Child Labor Advisory Committee Talking Points September 12, 2000 Thank you: * Assistant Secretary Elisabeth Bresee [breh-ZEE] * Commissioner Raymond Kelly of Customs * Gene Sperling * All of you here today - Diverse backgrounds: church, human rights, business, academic - But common goal to end child labor - Done great work Child Labor Stats: * 250 million children between 5-14 in developing countries are working - 50-60 million kids between 5 and 11 are engaged in hazardous work. Taken some good steps so far: * ILO Convention No. 182 * Increase money for education in countries with high incidence of child labor * Trade and Development Act of 2000. * And I'm especially proud of the provisions I wrote in Sec. 307 to ban all imports made by forced/indentured child labor - No longer a "rider" subject to annual appropriations process in Congress. - President signed into law in May. * Response from Treasury Department and Customs Service has been very positive - Established forced child labor program within fraud investigations division - Added customs agents in the US and overseas -- Appropriated more money for enforcement -- More field investigations in problem countries and industries - Established customs offices in Brazil, Phillipines and China to actively ferret out problems (though not yet in India) - Issued a number of detention orders -- Case involving 60 Minutes, Indian beedi cigarettes and the San Francisco importer Future 1) Get our own house in order - CARE Act - In the US, have child laborers as young as 10 doing hazardous work in the fields - Perfect example of kind of child labor covered by ILO Convention 182 - Cracking down on child labor in the US will enhance our international credibility - Must update our own child labor laws -- Haven't been overhauled since the 1930's - Need new anti-sweatshop provisions, -- stronger civil and criminal penalties, -- provisions to help young people strike a balance between school and work. 2) Must speak up about the list of problem countries and products using forced child labor just released by the President - Started with unpublished list of 25 countries and scores of products last November -- Wound up with what was published in the Federal Register last week - contained only 2 countries - Burma and Pakistan, - And 10 products 3) Must work for mandatory, tougher anti-child labor laws. -- Draft Customs Advisory you've written is a great step forward, - But have to remember that this will just be voluntary - Moral arguments and voluntary regulations only work with moral people - McDonalds in China: - Marketing toys in Happy Meals made by Chinese child laborers. - They've had voluntary corporate code of conduct prohibiting child labor since 1997. - If you want people to change, hit them where it counts - pocketbook. - Voluntary measures are helpful, but no substitute for tough laws and enforcement. Labor Attache Corps Remarks July 19, 2000 * TY, Harold Koh, Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy, Human Rights and Labor * TY to each of you for helping improve lives of working people around the world. * Labor Attache Corps is great legacy of great President: FDR. . -- FDR understood international diplomacy. - Understood that you don't make peace, spread democracy, promote human rights only through high level meetings behind closed doors. * Knew that diplomacy must also happen on the ground and in the street - At the factory and in the warehouse. -- At the mills and in the mines. * FDR understood that most effective diplomacy involves understanding working people: - People who form backbone of countries - People who clean the streets, plough the fields, build the homes. 1 * Unfortunately, recently, these ideals threatened by UNDIPLOMATIC budget cuts. -- Corps hit the budget chopping block in the 1980's. - In 1994, almost hit the graveyard. * But Corps survived, and you're all proof of its success and its potential. * More than ever before, we need strong, vibrant Labor Attache Corps: -- especially when comes to ensuring basic human rights around the globe. * I have long-standing interest in human rights, especially child labor. -- made some good progress, but still have a long way to go. * Still, tens of millions of children working in unhealthy, dangerous, slave-like conditions. 2 * Still children forced into pornography and prostitution. - Forced to serve in armed conflicts - Bondage and slavery - 6-7 year olds chained to looms - handling toxic chemicals - work day and nights making bricks, carpets, shirts, sporting goods. - Never see the inside of a classroom. * It's a moral outrage, affront to human dignity, impediment to international development. -- No place in global economy for slave labor of children. * Why I recently authored an amendment to the Trade and Development Act of 2000, which the President signed into law in May. -- Prohibits awarding trade preferences to any country that hasn't implemented its commitments to eliminate the worst forms of child labor. -- Toughest provision against child labor in two decades. 3 * Harkin Amendment applies to Generalized System of Preferences and new Africa and Caribbean trade liberalization programs. -- Covers thousands of products from more than 120 nations. -- Unlike other grounds for denying or withdrawing trade preferences, child labor provisions are mandatory. - President cannot waive all consideration of child labor based on U.S. economic interests, except in one narrow circumstance. * For first time ever, national governments take specific, time-bound action against child labor if they want to export their products to the US duty free. * For the first time ever, US Secretary of Labor must submit annual findings to Congress on whether governments are actually implementing their international commitments to eliminate the worst forms of child labor. * But laws and amendments are just paper without infrastructure and people-power to enforce them. 4 * That's why the Labor Attache Corps is so important. -- Child labor is a grassroots problem, -- can't always see grassroots from the embassy balcony. -- Must stop child labor where it starts: in the sweatshops, brothels, mines, and weaving sheds hidden from public view. * You're the on-the-ground, eyes and ears, infrastructure of worldwide campaign to end child labor. -- You make the contacts, for the networks, hear word on the street. - You have the diplomatic expertise and investigative tenacity to put a SPOT-light and a STOP light on child labor and labor repression around the world. * You've got a tough job. -- People at the top might not always want to listen - Be skunk at the picnic - Keep speaking up and speaking out. - If people don't listen, keep talking until someone does. 5 * Support for your work is growing every day. -- Advisory Committee on Labor Diplomacy is doing terrific work. -- Secretary Albright created a new post of Special Representative for International Labor Affairs to report directly to her. -- Wish Sandra Polaski much success in this new, high- profile position. * In the next year, I intend to introduce legislation to: - Commend Labor Attache Corps - And call for plan to assign a labor attache, counselor, or reporting officer to every U.S. embassy abroad by January 1, 2002. - Will be uphill battle, and I'll need your support. * Conclude with a story. - Stonecutter working in his basement. - Son came to watch him. - Stone cutter hit rock again and again: on 2 0 0 h try, split it in two. - Son said, "If 2 00th try broke the rock, why not hit it that hard in the first place?" - Father replied, "It wasn't the 2 0 0 th try that broke the rock. It was the 199 that came before it." 6 Papile. And so is their teacher Ron Adams. The city of Kasur is as desperate as any you'll find in the Third World. But amidst the sea of poverty, there is an island of hope. That's the school that you built....(TALK ABOUT VISIT) Throughout my visit to South Asia, I carried the same message everywhere I went, and to anyone who would listen: child labor is a big issue in this country and it's not going to go away. We're going to make sure that it's on the agenda in Congress, at the UN, and the ILO. And I said this not as a threat--but as a fact of life. O4 N%~\ Carpet exports were obviously high on my agenda. In Pakistan, I urged the PCMEA (Pakistan Carpet Manufacturers Association) to work together to join the Rugmark. And in India, I told the Minister of Labor that American consumers would not accept an imitation label or label that does not have a credible monitoring system. In India, I also had the privilege of visiting the Rugmark Headquarters. And I met personally with General Sondhi, Ms. Maneka Ghandi and our friend, Kailash Satiyarthi... Now, I'm pushing hard in Congress for a labeling initiative that takes the Rugmark approach for sporting goods and apparel. I re-introduced that bill last week. And to critics who say it can't be done, I say: Come to Rugmark. Rugmark has proven that labeling works. By the end of this month, half a million Rugmark carpets will have been exported from India to Germany and 250 children are out of the looms, in schools, and receiving health care. A third school is being built. We have a long way to go. And I'm not advocating Rugmark as a cookie-cutter solution for every industry, but it is a model that should be examined. The key to continued progress is to keep learning and working together--industry, consumers and human rights groups. It takes individuals and ideas. As Iqbal--and the students from Broad Meadows--have shown us, one person can make a difference. As Iqbal told us, ending abusive child labor is our responsibility. As we remember him--and celebrate the opening of Rugmark USA--let us also recommit ourselves to our common goal: Giving back to the world's children the most precious gift of all--their childhood. Now, I'd like to ask for a moment of silence in memory of Iqbal. 2 We, as consumers, need to continue to send a strong message to importers here to carry Rugmark carpets. We, as citizens, need to get the word out to our friends, neighbors and co-workers that when it comes to carpets we now have a choice. We, as policy advocates, need to keep pushing hard for a labeling initiative for other goods. And we, as members of the human family, need to keep raising our voice and raising the pressure to finally end child labor. His voice may have been silenced but his message will never be. * I visited with the children at the school and area tannery owners, where some of the children work before going to school. They were all commited to maintaining the school. Industry and human rights organizations came to the conclusion that children must be given an education. * I told them that American consumers were demanding hand-knotted carpets that were made without abusive and exploitative child labor. And that Rugmark guaranteed that carpets were not made with abusive and exploited child labor. The message is quite simple: Morality in Marketing. Good night. 3 II consumers, need to continue to send a strong message to importers in the United States that we will only buy rugs if they bear the Rugmark label. The message is quite simple: Morality in Marketing. * We need to get the word out to our friends, neighbors and co-workers that we now have a choice in the United States. We need to support Masterlooms, Inc. and Tufenkian Tibetan Carpets because they now carry Rugmark carpets. * Thank you for coming to show your support for Rugmark. Good night.