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“STATEMENT OF KATHIE LEE GIFFORD CONCERNING CHILD LABOR TO THE CONGRESSIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS CAUCUS” mentioning the U.S. Dept of Labor was published in the Extensions of Remarks section on pages E1869 on Oct. 1, 1998.
The publication is reproduced in full below:
STATEMENT OF KATHIE LEE GIFFORD CONCERNING CHILD LABOR TO THE
CONGRESSIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS CAUCUS
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HON. TOM LANTOS
of california
in the house of representatives
Thursday, October 1, 1998
Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, earlier this week on Monday September 28, the Congressional Human Rights Caucus held a briefing for members of this body on international child labor issues. Child labor has traditionally been among the most difficult and troubling of the human rights issues that we deal with. The problem is the greatest in those countries where poverty and lack of economic opportunity are the greatest. Furthermore, the extensive use of child labor only perpetuates that cycle of poverty by limiting the opportunity for these working children to attend school and gain the education they need to improve their situation.
Developing countries, in their struggle to improve their national economic and social conditions, often have failed to deal with the tragedy of child laborers. The International Labor Organizations (ILO) has estimated that some 250 million children between the ages of five and fourteen are working in developing countries around the world. Some 61 percent of this total, nearly 153 million children, are found in Asia alone.
To alleviate the grinding poverty and economic hardships that they face, many families in developing countries submit children to some of the worst forms of child labor such as exposure to extremely hazardous work, slave-like conditions, prostitution, pornography, and other intolerable situation. Often child victims of this practice never learn to read or write at all, and upon reaching adulthood these children can only past the legacy of poverty, illiteracy, and hardship to their own children.
Mr. Speaker, in recent years, with the strong support of our Department of State and our Department of Labor, efforts have been made to raise awareness of this serious problem. In 1992 the ILO initiated the International Program on the Elimination of Child Labor to work toward the progressive elimination of child labor. These efforts must be encouraged.
Mr. Speaker, at the briefing of the Congressional Human Rights Caucus, Kathie Lee Clifford, who was accompanied by her husband, Frank Gillord, made an excellent statement on this issue of child labor. I ask that her statement be placed in the Record, and I urge my colleagues to give thoughtful attention to her views.
Statement of Kathie Lee Gifford
In the past two and half years I have learned a great deal about sweatshops and child labor--enough to make me physically ill and at many times brokenhearted. I have learned that all it takes to create a sweatshop environment is one greedy, unethical person and one desperate one. While it seems that solutions of the past have done little to combat labor abuses, I've also learned that if the various groups represented here work together, unified by the mandate that we must end these horrible conditions, we could accomplish a great deal.
When I was accused personally of being involved in labor abuses I was stunned. How could anyone possibly believe I could run a sweatshop? (1) I don't manufacture anything; (2) I don't own a factory; (3) I don't pay anyone to manufacture anything; and (4) I have an iron-clad contract that specifically states nothing can be manufactured with my name on it in an abusive manner. But, then I learned how easy it is for someone to exploit the system, ignore the compliance agreement, and profit from the misery of hard-working, vulnerable people--even children. I was angry and resolved it do whatever I could to do something about it.
Although I'm an endorser, a licensor of my trademark--and not the manufacture of goods--I promised that if, and whenever I discovered that any goods bearing my name were made in a factory with abusive conditions, either these conditions would be corrected or nothing with my name would continue to be made in that factory. I hired a reputable worldwide firm of independent monitors to inspect the factories so that I would learn their working conditions. When unfair working conditions are discovered we give the factory one chance to rectify the problem. If the conditions are not corrected, we take away our business. In the case of child labor abuses we do not allow a second chance--one time and the factory's out. This monitoring program will continue so long as I lend my name to any goods or products.
I learned about and campaigned for legislation on the Federal, State and local levels to address working conditions. I'm here to support legislation such as the
``Young American Workers Bill of Rights Act'' and the
``Children's Act for Responsible Employment.'' These acts must promptly be passed by Congress. In Congressman Lantos' words, ``We have neither the time nor the luxury to debate whether this is a child labor problem.'' But I've also learned that legislation alone will not solve the problem: We need the concerted effort of Government, manufacturers, unions and human interest organizations. I know that these groups, while supporting many of the same ideas, sometimes disagree on means and methods of accomplish their goals. We must continue to work together, to enact and enforce laws; but also to educate consumers--these are the ``new solutions for child labor abuses.''
I truly appreciate being asked to appear before you today. I am here as the mother of two small children from whom I hope to leave a legacy of hard work, sacrifice, fairness and a determined commitment to make this world a better place for all children, especially children less blessed than my own. I realize that in certain ways my name has become synonymous with the term ``sweatshop.'' That as been painful to me both personally and professionally, and yet I have always felt that all things work together for good for those who love God and are called according to his purpose. I find comfort and hope in this promise from the Scriptures--that indeed my struggle will result in aiding all of your efforts to end the very real and heartbreaking struggle of millions of vulnerable children around the world.
There are many other celebrity endorsers lending their good names of products manufactured throughout the world. I believe each of them has a moral responsibility to take whatever steps possible to ensure the integrity of their products. A contract with strong language is simply not enough. I encourage them to hire, at their own expense a reputable independent monitoring service and use their public platform to educate consumers and pressure their manufacturers to comply with all ethical and legal standards.
None of us can ignore the use of child labor. Today, in this room, there are Members of Congress and representatives of human rights organizations, unions and government and private citizens like myself. Let us together be a voice for those who cannot speak for themselves. Comfortable in our privileged world, we cannot hear the cries of the children chained to a life of abuse, but our silence at the injustices they suffer is deafening to the ears of God.
Perhaps we can put a face on child labor by substituting our own children with the faceless children we only know as statistics. Today when you go to dress your six-year-old, stop to think of that six-year old being snuck into the back of a sweatshop to work long hours, cutting and sewing clothes they could never afford. Today when you watch your seven-year-old run back and forth on a soccer field, think of that seven-year-old sitting in a sweltering factory making that soccer ball he will never have a chance to play with. And today when you shoot baskets with your eight-year-old, think of the eight-year-old who sewed those sneakers and who will never, every jump for joy. Think of your own children and think of all the children all over the world who are being denied a childhood because of others' greed and our own indifference.
Each of us has a responsibility and an opportunity. Our responsibility is to make the world a better place for these children to live and work in. Our opportunity is now for new solutions for child labor abuses; to enact laws like the
``Young American Workers Bill of Rights Act'' and the
``Children's Act for Responsible Employment'' to join together to form a powerful alliance of caring individuals who refuse to support companies that utilize child labor; and finally, to pray for all the children of the world that someday they may enjoy a life in the sunshine, breathing fresh air and laughing with a joy that can only come from knowing that they are loved and that they are precious just like our own children.
Perhaps the most important thing I have learned about this issue is that sweatshops operators are counting on one thing--that you don't care how your products are made. These children are counting on something very different--that you do care, especially when they're made by children. Together through our efforts and the work of this Congressional Human Rights Caucus, let's prove the children are right and let's make the unspeakable shame of abusive child labor a thing of the past.
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