Request for Information Concerning Labor Rights in Malaysia and Its Laws Governing Exploitative Child Labor, 19206-19207 [E6-5515]
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Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 71 / Thursday, April 13, 2006 / Notices
of the Decree may also be obtained by
mail from the Consent Decree Library,
P.O. Box 7611, U.S. Department of
Justice, Washington, DC 20044–7611 or
by faxing or e-mailing a request to Tonia
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fax no. (202) 514–0097, phone
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without the appendices, please enclose
a check in the amount of $12.25 (25
cents per page reproduction cost)
payable to the U.S. Treasury.
Robert E. Maher, Jr.,
Assistant Chief, Environmental Enforcement
Section, Environment and Natural Resources
Division.
[FR Doc. 06–3519 Filed 4–12–06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4410–15–M
DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
Office of the Secretary
Notice of Intent To Fund the
Foundation for Peace and Democracy
(FUNPADEM)
Bureau of International Labor
Affairs, U.S. Department of Labor.
ACTION: Notice of Intent to award up to
a total of $7 million to the Foundation
for Peace and Democracy (FUNPADEM)
to implement a program to support
government, worker, and employer
initiatives to strengthen compliance
with national labor laws in Central
America and the Dominican Republic
(Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador,
Nicaragua, and the Dominican
Republic).
AGENCY:
The free trade agreement
between the United States and the
CAFTA–DR countries establishes a
commitment to effectively enforce
domestic labor laws. This project will
assist CAFTA–DR countries to develop
and implement measures to improve
compliance with their national labor
laws. The project will build on work
currently being carried out by
FUNPADEM under the existing
cooperative agreement number E–9-K–
3–0097 with the Department of Labor,
which was awarded through a
competitive process in 2003 (SGA 03–
20, Vol. 68, No. 139 of the Federal
Register on July 21, 2003). Utilizing
FUNPADEM eliminates unnecessary
costs, project duplication, and
inconsistencies that would occur with a
new implementer. The new funds will
allow FUNPADEM to develop new
HSRObinson on PROD1PC61 with NOTICES
SUMMARY:
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14:20 Apr 12, 2006
Jkt 208001
activities and to extend activities
currently under way at the national
level to additional geographic regions
within each country. The activities that
FUNPADEM will extend and develop
include:
• Develop and implement inspection
and mediation case management
systems;
• Improve inspection procedures and
training for labor inspectors;
• Implement public awareness
campaigns and training for workers and
employers about labor laws and
standards;
• Strengthen mediation centers and
training for labor mediators; and
• Provide equipment such as
computers and vehicles.
In addition, a specific gender
component will be developed and
incorporated into the work described
above. The component will focus on
reducing discrimination against women
and sexual harassment in the maquila
sector through public awareness,
training for workers and employers, and
the development or strengthening of
gender offices within the Ministries of
Labor.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT Lisa
Harvey, Harvey.Lisa@dol.gov, (202)
693–4750. U.S. Department of Labor,
Office of the Assistant Secretary, 200
Constitution Ave., NW., Washington,
DC 20210.
Dated: April 5, 2006.
Lisa Harvey,
Grant Officer.
[FR Doc. E6–5514 Filed 4–12–06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510–28–P
DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
Office of the Secretary
Request for Information Concerning
Labor Rights in Malaysia and Its Laws
Governing Exploitative Child Labor
AGENCIES: Office of the Secretary,
United States Department of Labor;
Office of the United States Trade
Representative and Department of State.
ACTION: Request for comments from the
public.
SUMMARY: This notice is a request for
comments from the public to assist the
Secretary of Labor, the United States
Trade Representative, and the Secretary
of State in preparing reports regarding
labor rights in Malaysia and describing
the extent to which it has in effect laws
governing exploitative child labor. The
Trade Act of 2002 requires reports on
these issues and others when the
President intends to use trade
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Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
promotion authority procedures in
connection with legislation approving
and implementing a trade agreement.
The President assigned the functions of
preparing reports regarding labor rights
and the existence of laws governing
exploitative child labor to the Secretary
of Labor, in consultation with the
Secretary of State and the United States
Trade Representative. The Secretary of
Labor further assigned these functions
to the Secretary of State and the United
States Trade Representative, to be
carried out by the Secretary of Labor,
the Secretary of State and the United
States Trade Representative.
DATES: Public comments must be
received no later than 5 p.m. May 30,
2006.
ADDRESSES: Persons submitting
comments are strongly advised to make
such submissions by electronic mail to
the following address:
FRFTAMalaysia@dol.gov. Submissions
by facsimile may be sent to: Howard R.
Dobson, Office of International
Economic Affairs, Bureau of
International Labor Affairs, U.S.
Department of Labor, at (202) 693–4851.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For
procedural questions regarding the
submissions, please contact Howard R.
Dobson, Office of International
Economic Affairs, Bureau of
International Labor Affairs, U.S.
Department of Labor, at (202) 693–4871,
facsimile (202) 693–4851. These are not
toll-free numbers. Substantive questions
concerning the labor rights report and/
or the report on Malaysia’s laws
governing exploitative child labor
should be addressed to Gregory K.
Schoepfle, Acting Director, Office of
International Economic Affairs, Bureau
of International Labor Affairs, U.S.
Department of Labor, 200 Constitution
Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20210,
telephone (202) 693–4887, facsimile
(202) 693–4851.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Background Information
On March 8, 2006, in accordance with
section 2104(a)(1) of the Trade Act of
2002, the United States Trade
Representative (USTR) notified the
Congress of the President’s intent to
enter into free trade negotiations with
Malaysia. The notification letters to the
Senate and the House of Representatives
can be found on the USTR Web site at:
https://www.ustr.gov/assets/
Document_Library/Letters_to_Congress/
2006/asset_upload_file337_9180.pdf.
On March 22, 2006, USTR announced
its intention to hold a public hearing on
May 3, 2006, for the interagency Trade
Policy Staff Committee (TPSC) to
E:\FR\FM\13APN1.SGM
13APN1
Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 71 / Thursday, April 13, 2006 / Notices
HSRObinson on PROD1PC61 with NOTICES
receive written comments and oral
testimony from the public to assist
USTR in formulating positions and
proposals with respect to all aspects of
the negotiations (71 FR, 14558) (March
22, 2006). USTR intends to launch the
negotiations in June, 2006.
The Trade Act of 2002 (Pub. L. 107–
210) (the Trade Act) sets forth special
procedures (Trade Promotion Authority)
for approval and implementation of
Agreements subject to meeting
conditions and requirements in Division
B of the Trade Act, ‘‘Bipartisan Trade
Promotion Authority.’’ Section 2102(a)–
(c) of the Trade Act includes negotiating
objectives and a listing of priorities for
the President to promote in order to
‘‘address and maintain United States
competitiveness in the global economy’’
in pursuing future trade agreements.
The President assigned several of the
functions in section 2102(c) to the
Secretary of Labor. (E.O. 13277). These
include the functions set forth in section
2102(c)(8), which requires that the
President ‘‘in connection with any trade
negotiations entered into under this Act,
submit to the Committee on Ways and
Means of the House of Representatives
and the Committee on Finance of the
Senate a meaningful labor rights report
of the country, or countries, with
respect to which the President is
negotiating,’’ and the function in section
2102(c)(9), which requires that the
President ‘‘with respect to any trade
agreement which the President seeks to
implement under trade authorities
procedures, submit to the Congress a
report describing the extent to which
the country or countries that are parties
to the agreement have in effect laws
governing exploitative child labor.’’
II. Information Sought
Interested parties are invited to
submit written information as specified
below to be taken into account in
drafting the required reports. Materials
submitted are expected to be confined to
the specific topics of the reports. In
particular, agencies are seeking written
submissions on the following topics:
1. Labor laws of Malaysia, including
laws governing exploitative child labor,
and that country’s implementation and
enforcement of its labor laws and
regulations;
2. The situation in Malaysia with
respect to core labor standards;
3. Steps taken by Malaysia to comply
with International Labor Organization
Convention No. 182 on the worst forms
of child labor; and
4. The nature and extent, if any, of
exploitative child labor in Malaysia.
Section 2113(6) of the Trade Act
defines ‘‘core labor standards’’ as:
VerDate Aug<31>2005
14:20 Apr 12, 2006
Jkt 208001
(A) The right of association;
(B) The right to organize and bargain
collectively;
(C) A prohibition on the use of any
form of forced or compulsory labor;
(D) A minimum age for the
employment of children; and
(E) Acceptable conditions of work
with respect to minimum wages, hours
of work, and occupational safety and
health.
III. Requirements for Submissions
This document is a request for facts or
opinions submitted in response to a
general solicitation of comments from
the public. To ensure prompt and full
consideration of submissions, it is
strongly recommended that interested
persons submit comments by electronic
mail to the following e-mail address:
FRFTAMalaysia@dol.gov. Persons
making submissions by e-mail are
expected to use the following subject
line: ‘‘Malaysia: Labor Rights and Child
Labor Reports.’’ Documents must be
submitted in WordPerfect, MSWord, or
text (.TXT) format. Supporting
documentation submitted as
spreadsheets is acceptable in Quattro
Pro or Excel format. Persons who make
submissions by e-mail need not provide
separate cover letters; information that
might appear in a cover letter is
expected to be included in the
submission itself. Similarly, to the
extent possible, any attachments to the
submission are expected to be included
in the same file as the submission itself,
and not as separate files. Written
comments will be placed in a file open
to public inspection at the Department
of Labor, Room S–5317, 200
Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington,
DC 20210, and in the USTR Reading
Room in Room 3 of the annex of the
Office of the USTR, 1724 F Street, NW.,
Washington, DC 20508. An appointment
to review the file at the Department of
Labor may be made by contacting
Howard R. Dobson at (202) 693–4871.
An appointment to review the file at
USTR may be made by calling (202)
395–6186. The USTR Reading Room is
generally open to the public from 10
a.m.–12 noon and 1 p.m.–4 p.m.,
Monday through Friday. Appointments
must be scheduled at least 48 hours in
advance.
Signed at Washington, DC this 7th day of
April 2006.
James Carter,
Deputy Under Secretary for International
Labor Affairs.
[FR Doc. E6–5515 Filed 4–12–06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510–28–P
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19207
DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
Employment and Training
Administration
[TA–W–56,431]
Kennedy Die Castings, Inc., Currently
Known as Thermalcast LLC, Including
On-Site Leased Workers From Excel
Staffing, Worcester, MA; Amended
Certification Regarding Eligibility To
Apply for Worker Adjustment
Assistance and Alternative Trade
Adjustment Assistance
In accordance with section 223 of the
Trade Act of 1974 (19 U.S.C. 2273), and
section 246 of the Trade Act of 1974 (19
U.S.C. 2813), as amended, the
Department of Labor issued a
Certification of Eligibility To Apply for
Worker Adjustment Assistance and
Alternative Trade Adjustment
Assistance on February 23, 2005,
applicable to all workers of Kennedy
Die Castings, Inc., Worcester,
Massachusetts, including on-site leased
workers from Excel Staffing. The notice
was published in the Federal Register
on March 9, 2005 (70 FR 11704).
At the request of a petitioner, the
Department reviewed the certification
for workers of the subject firm. The
workers produced aluminum and zinc
die cast components.
New information provided to the
Department by a company official
shows that in December 2004, Kennedy
Die Castings, Inc., Worcester,
Massachusetts, was purchased by
Thermalcast LLC, and continued the
production of aluminum and zinc die
cast components. Therefore, the
Department is amending the
certification to reflect the new
ownership.
The intent of the certification is to
include all workers of the firm adversely
affected by increased imports of
aluminum and zinc die cast
components.
The amended notice applicable to
TA–W–56,431 is hereby issued as
follows:
‘‘All workers of Kennedy Die Castings, Inc.,
currently known as Thermalcast LLC,
Worcester, Massachusetts, including on-site
leased workers from Excel Staffing, who
became totally or partially separated from
employment on or after January 3, 2004,
through February 23, 2007, are eligible to
apply for adjustment assistance under
Section 223 of the Trade Act of 1974, and are
also eligible to apply for alternative trade
adjustment assistance under Section 246 of
the Trade Act of 1974.’’
E:\FR\FM\13APN1.SGM
13APN1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 71 (Thursday, April 13, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 19206-19207]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-5515]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
Office of the Secretary
Request for Information Concerning Labor Rights in Malaysia and
Its Laws Governing Exploitative Child Labor
AGENCIES: Office of the Secretary, United States Department of Labor;
Office of the United States Trade Representative and Department of
State.
ACTION: Request for comments from the public.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: This notice is a request for comments from the public to
assist the Secretary of Labor, the United States Trade Representative,
and the Secretary of State in preparing reports regarding labor rights
in Malaysia and describing the extent to which it has in effect laws
governing exploitative child labor. The Trade Act of 2002 requires
reports on these issues and others when the President intends to use
trade promotion authority procedures in connection with legislation
approving and implementing a trade agreement. The President assigned
the functions of preparing reports regarding labor rights and the
existence of laws governing exploitative child labor to the Secretary
of Labor, in consultation with the Secretary of State and the United
States Trade Representative. The Secretary of Labor further assigned
these functions to the Secretary of State and the United States Trade
Representative, to be carried out by the Secretary of Labor, the
Secretary of State and the United States Trade Representative.
DATES: Public comments must be received no later than 5 p.m. May 30,
2006.
ADDRESSES: Persons submitting comments are strongly advised to make
such submissions by electronic mail to the following address:
FRFTAMalaysia@dol.gov. Submissions by facsimile may be sent to: Howard
R. Dobson, Office of International Economic Affairs, Bureau of
International Labor Affairs, U.S. Department of Labor, at (202) 693-
4851.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For procedural questions regarding the
submissions, please contact Howard R. Dobson, Office of International
Economic Affairs, Bureau of International Labor Affairs, U.S.
Department of Labor, at (202) 693-4871, facsimile (202) 693-4851. These
are not toll-free numbers. Substantive questions concerning the labor
rights report and/or the report on Malaysia's laws governing
exploitative child labor should be addressed to Gregory K. Schoepfle,
Acting Director, Office of International Economic Affairs, Bureau of
International Labor Affairs, U.S. Department of Labor, 200 Constitution
Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20210, telephone (202) 693-4887, facsimile
(202) 693-4851.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Background Information
On March 8, 2006, in accordance with section 2104(a)(1) of the
Trade Act of 2002, the United States Trade Representative (USTR)
notified the Congress of the President's intent to enter into free
trade negotiations with Malaysia. The notification letters to the
Senate and the House of Representatives can be found on the USTR Web
site at: https://www.ustr.gov/assets/Document_Library/Letters_to_
Congress/2006/asset_upload_file337_9180.pdf.
On March 22, 2006, USTR announced its intention to hold a public
hearing on May 3, 2006, for the interagency Trade Policy Staff
Committee (TPSC) to
[[Page 19207]]
receive written comments and oral testimony from the public to assist
USTR in formulating positions and proposals with respect to all aspects
of the negotiations (71 FR, 14558) (March 22, 2006). USTR intends to
launch the negotiations in June, 2006.
The Trade Act of 2002 (Pub. L. 107-210) (the Trade Act) sets forth
special procedures (Trade Promotion Authority) for approval and
implementation of Agreements subject to meeting conditions and
requirements in Division B of the Trade Act, ``Bipartisan Trade
Promotion Authority.'' Section 2102(a)-(c) of the Trade Act includes
negotiating objectives and a listing of priorities for the President to
promote in order to ``address and maintain United States
competitiveness in the global economy'' in pursuing future trade
agreements. The President assigned several of the functions in section
2102(c) to the Secretary of Labor. (E.O. 13277). These include the
functions set forth in section 2102(c)(8), which requires that the
President ``in connection with any trade negotiations entered into
under this Act, submit to the Committee on Ways and Means of the House
of Representatives and the Committee on Finance of the Senate a
meaningful labor rights report of the country, or countries, with
respect to which the President is negotiating,'' and the function in
section 2102(c)(9), which requires that the President ``with respect to
any trade agreement which the President seeks to implement under trade
authorities procedures, submit to the Congress a report describing the
extent to which the country or countries that are parties to the
agreement have in effect laws governing exploitative child labor.''
II. Information Sought
Interested parties are invited to submit written information as
specified below to be taken into account in drafting the required
reports. Materials submitted are expected to be confined to the
specific topics of the reports. In particular, agencies are seeking
written submissions on the following topics:
1. Labor laws of Malaysia, including laws governing exploitative
child labor, and that country's implementation and enforcement of its
labor laws and regulations;
2. The situation in Malaysia with respect to core labor standards;
3. Steps taken by Malaysia to comply with International Labor
Organization Convention No. 182 on the worst forms of child labor; and
4. The nature and extent, if any, of exploitative child labor in
Malaysia.
Section 2113(6) of the Trade Act defines ``core labor standards''
as:
(A) The right of association;
(B) The right to organize and bargain collectively;
(C) A prohibition on the use of any form of forced or compulsory
labor;
(D) A minimum age for the employment of children; and
(E) Acceptable conditions of work with respect to minimum wages,
hours of work, and occupational safety and health.
III. Requirements for Submissions
This document is a request for facts or opinions submitted in
response to a general solicitation of comments from the public. To
ensure prompt and full consideration of submissions, it is strongly
recommended that interested persons submit comments by electronic mail
to the following e-mail address: FRFTAMalaysia@dol.gov. Persons making
submissions by e-mail are expected to use the following subject line:
``Malaysia: Labor Rights and Child Labor Reports.'' Documents must be
submitted in WordPerfect, MSWord, or text (.TXT) format. Supporting
documentation submitted as spreadsheets is acceptable in Quattro Pro or
Excel format. Persons who make submissions by e-mail need not provide
separate cover letters; information that might appear in a cover letter
is expected to be included in the submission itself. Similarly, to the
extent possible, any attachments to the submission are expected to be
included in the same file as the submission itself, and not as separate
files. Written comments will be placed in a file open to public
inspection at the Department of Labor, Room S-5317, 200 Constitution
Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20210, and in the USTR Reading Room in Room
3 of the annex of the Office of the USTR, 1724 F Street, NW.,
Washington, DC 20508. An appointment to review the file at the
Department of Labor may be made by contacting Howard R. Dobson at (202)
693-4871. An appointment to review the file at USTR may be made by
calling (202) 395-6186. The USTR Reading Room is generally open to the
public from 10 a.m.-12 noon and 1 p.m.-4 p.m., Monday through Friday.
Appointments must be scheduled at least 48 hours in advance.
Signed at Washington, DC this 7th day of April 2006.
James Carter,
Deputy Under Secretary for International Labor Affairs.
[FR Doc. E6-5515 Filed 4-12-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-28-P
