Child Labor Gets Spotlight Treatment at AIHce 2008
The issue of child labor has experienced a recent surge in prominence in the collective consciousness. From April 1-10, the International Labour Organization convened a meeting of experts to discuss several labor topics, including how to obtain accurate child labor statistics. The resulting "Report 1 - Child Labour Satistics" will be submitted to ILO at the organization's 18th International Conference of Labour Statisticians (Geneva, Switzerland, Nov. 24 - Dec. 5, 2008) for the proposal of a standard.
The American Industrial Hygiene Association will also be doing its part to raise awareness of this issue at this year's expo with an exhibit of photos from the book "Before Their Time: The World of Child Labor." AIHA says the book could be the most comprehensive examination of child labor since Lewis Hine photographed working children more than 100 years ago. David L. Parker, the book's author, will take part in a book signing Monday, June 2, at 10 a.m. in the AIHA booth.
In related news, the U.S. Department of Labor will hold a public hearing tomorrow to collect information on the use of child labor and forced labor worldwide in the production of goods. The hearing will begin at 10:30 a.m. at the department's headquarters, 200 Constitution Ave. NW in Washington, D.C. Attendance requests are being accepted from all interested parties.