-U.S. lauds Liberia for efforts aimed at curbing child labor
MONROVIA – The Government of the United States of America through its Embassy near Monrovia has lauded Liberia for the country’s efforts aimed at curbing child labor.
In a statement released Wednesday, the Embassy quoting a U.S. Department of Labor’s 2020 Child Labor Report on Liberia, which was released on 29 September, indicated that the report known as the Trade and Development Act Report, which is in accordance with the U.S. Trade and Development Act (TDA) of 2000, includes an assessment of the Liberian government’s actions to eliminate the worst forms of child labor.
The U.S. Trade and Development Act requires that a country implements its commitments to eliminate the worst forms of child labor in order to be eligible to be designated a beneficiary developing country under the United States’ Generalized System of Preferences. It also mandates that the President of the United States submits to Congress the Secretary of Labor’s findings with respect to each beneficiary country’s implementation of its international commitments to eliminate the worst forms of child labor.
In this year’s report, according to the U.S. Embassy, Liberia was assessed as making “moderate advancement” in its efforts, the second highest of five assessment levels.
In the report, each country receives one of five possible assessments, including significant; advancement; moderate advancement; minimal advancement; no advancement; or no assessment.
Each country in the TDA Report receives an assessment to indicate clearly the Secretary of Labor’s findings on each country’s level of advancement in efforts to eliminate the worst forms of child labor during the reporting period.
The 29 September released report analyzes the Liberian government’s efforts to eliminate the worst forms of child labor through the country’s legislation, enforcement, coordination, policies, and social programs.
Liberia is one of 131 countries, non-independent countries, and territories profiled in this year’s report, with the country receiving a “moderate advancement” assessment, for which the U.S. Embassy says it’s an achievement for which those working in the Government of Liberia on this issue deserve credit for their sustained efforts.
“The Embassy congratulates the Republic of Liberia on this progress. Each person must do their part to end exploitation and expose those who engage in abusive labor practices, the U.S. Embassy stated in its Wednesday’s statement, indicating that “The challenge is immense but so are the opportunities for action.”
The U.S. Embassy I expressed the hope that the Government of Liberia will use the information in the recently released report to take concrete steps to make child labor related injustices a relic of the past.
According to the U.S. Embassy, each TDA Report country profile contains suggested actions for the government to consider implementing over the coming year, with the Embassy expressing the hope that this report, including the suggested actions, can be a point of continued dialogue and collaboration between the American and Liberian governments on eliminating child labor, particularly its worst forms.
The report can be accessed here: https://www.dol.gov/agencies/ilab/resources/reports/child-labor.
