BELOW FULL TEXT OF THE US EMBASSY’S STATEMENT:
September 29, 2021
Statement on the Release of the 2020 Child Labor Report for Liberia
Today, the U.S. Department of Labor released its 2020 Findings on the Worst Forms of Child Labor (the Trade and Development Act Report) in accordance with the U.S. Trade and Development Act of 2000.
The TDA Report includes an assessment of the Government of Liberia’s actions to eliminate the worst forms of child labor.
In this year’s report, Liberia was assessed as making “moderate advancement” in its efforts, the second highest of five assessment levels. The report can be accessed here: https://www.dol.gov/agencies/ilab/resources/reports/child-labor.
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 challenge is immense but so are the opportunities for action. We hope the Government of Liberia will use the information in this report to take concrete steps to make these injustices a relic of the past.
Background
The U.S. Trade and Development Act requires that a country implement its commitments to eliminate the worst forms of child labor in order to be eligible to be designated a beneficiary developing country under the U.S. Generalized System of Preferences.
It also mandates that the President of the United States submit 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.
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 report analyzes the Government of Liberia’s efforts to eliminate the worst forms of child labor through their legislation, enforcement, coordination, policies, and social programs. Liberia is one of 131 countries, non-independent countries, and territories profiled. Each country receives one of five possible assessments: Significant advancement, moderate advancement, minimal advancement, no advancement, or no assessment.
Liberia received a “moderate advancement” assessment, an achievement for which those working in the Government of Liberia on this issue deserve credit for their sustained efforts. In addition, each TDA Report country profile contains suggested actions for the government to consider implementing over the coming year.
We hope this report, including the suggested actions, can be a point of continued dialogue and collaboration between our two governments on eliminating child labor, particularly its worst forms.