Cablegate: Response to Unclass State 43120, Information On Forced And

VZCZCXRO5250
RR RUEHROV
DE RUEHKH #1110 2061402
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 241402Z JUL 08
FM AMEMBASSY KHARTOUM
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 1411
INFO RUCNIAD/IGAD COLLECTIVE
RHMFISS/CJTF HOA

UNCLAS KHARTOUM 001110

DEPT FOR AF/SPG, A/S FRAZER, SE WILLIAMSON, DRL/ILCSR, G/TIP
ADDIS ABABA FOR USAU
DEPT PLS PASS USAID FOR AFR/SUDAN
DOL FOR ILAB

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL KPKO SOCI AU UNSC SU
SUBJECT: RESPONSE TO UNCLASS STATE 43120, INFORMATION ON FORCED AND
CHILD LABOR IN THE PRODUCTION OF GOODS

REF: A. STATE 43120

1. (U) As requested under the Trafficking Victims Protection
Reauthorization Act of 2005, Section 105, post has no reason to
believe that goods produced in Sudan are produced with forced or
child labor in violation of international standards. While child
labor is rife in Sudan, high unemployment means the few
goods-producing positions available in the severely underdeveloped
country are generally filled by men, mostly migrants from rural
areas to large cities.

2. (U) Working children are central to the economic activity of a
majority of the households and communities in Sudan, but the
majority of children working in Sudan is employed in herding and
cultivating subsistence crops. In cities and towns, boys generally
work in restaurants, as porters, in construction, making bricks, and
selling goods for traders. Girls primarily work as domestic
servants, in construction, making bricks, making charcoal, and
selling tea or spices.

3. (U) Post was unable to find evidence to warrant a determination
that the incidence of forced labor or exploitative child labor in
the production of a good is significant to Sudan. Post asks DOL to
contact post should DOL desire to verify or corroborate information
on certain goods.

FERNANDEZ

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