Fairtrade America reaffirms concerns over cuts to US schemes tackling child labour
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Fairtrade America has joined with a number of key civil society groups in condemning major cuts to the US Department of Labour’s bureau of labour affairs (ILAB), totalling some $500 million in grant funding towards tackling overseas human rights abuses, reports Neill Barston.
The move by Donald Trump’s recently installed administration is part of wider sweeping reductions to major government departments, which Elon Musk labelled on X as being “America Last” policies that did not serve the nation’s interest – which was widely refuted by a number of industry observers.
As Fairtrade noted, the ILAB grants have been instrumental in supporting ongoing work in tackling key issues including child labour within supply chains – which has remained an issue for sectors including the cocoa industry serving the confectionery trade.
Moreover, as Confectionery Production has continued to report, a total of 1.5 million children in West African nations of Ghana and Ivory Coast remain exposed to the worst forms of child labour.
Fairtrade America’s Executive Director, Amanda Archila, offered her notable concern on the issue, which has seen a parallel move by the UK government to cut its own overseas development aid budgets, potentially impacting a number of aid programmes.
She said: “The fight against child labour, forced labour, and human trafficking has long been a bipartisan cause. Far from putting “America last,” ILAB’s grants fundamentally advance American interests and values. They raise labor standards around the world, benefitting American workers; maintain the integrity of our trade agreements, and promote human rights in the supply chains of products that Americans love, including coffee, chocolate, and more.
“Turning America’s back on those striving for decent, equitable work and freedom from forced labor is a blow to our core values. The loss of these grants will have direct and immediate impact on the farmers, workers, and civil society organisations who have been dedicated to turning the tide on these systemic challenges. The consequences on vulnerable communities, and most certainly on American businesses and consumers, will far outweigh the cost of ILAB’s essential programmes.”
The Solidarity Centre, the independent US non profit organisation supporting workers rights around the world, expressed considerable concern at the policy move, which it asserted placed particular concern on supply chains within the US and overseas.
In a statement, it said: “We are alarmed and deeply dismayed that the U.S. Department of Labour has terminated funding for International Labor Affairs Bureau (ILAB) programmes. We have received termination notices for all of our ILAB grants.
“This decision threatens to unravel decades of progress in combating forced and child labor, human trafficking and exploitation around the world.
“For over 20 years, ILAB-supported programs have helped uphold the values of dignity, freedom and fairness by supporting grassroots efforts to ensure safe workplaces and human rights protections across global supply chains.
“Crucially, many of these programs were established to enforce labor provisions in countries where the United States has trade agreements. They help ensure that our trading partners live up to their commitments. Cutting these programs risks turning a blind eye to violations that directly impact the fairness of our trade relationships.”
