STOPPING THE GLOBAL

RACE TO THE BOTTOM

Created by Congress in 1947, the U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of International Labor Affairs (ILAB) makes sure that the rights workers have fought for – like safe workplaces, fair pay and freedom to speak up – are respected in the places where our everyday goods are made. As trade agreements began requiring basic labor standards, ILAB became the main agency responsible for making sure those commitments are kept, especially in countries where workers are often exploited and labor laws are weak or ignored.

To do this work, ILAB funds trusted, expert organizations like the Solidarity Center to support workers on the ground, stop abuse and help raise standards in supply chains that stretch across borders. These programs are tightly managed, nonpartisan and held to strict government oversight to ensure public funds are used responsibly.

If ILAB is eliminated, the U.S. would lose one of its main ways to ensure workers’ fair treatment in the global economy. This would hurt workers in other countries and in the United States and give companies that exploit people to cut costs an unfair advantage. It would also roll back decades of bipartisan policy and damage our ability to lead on fairness and human rights.

our statement

On Tuesday, April 15, the Solidarity Center, Global March Against Child Labour, and the American Institutes for Research, represented by Public Citizen Litigation Group, filed a lawsuit challenging the U.S. Department of Labor’s unlawful termination of congressionally authorized international labor rights programs.

The lawsuit challenges the Department’s halt on funding for programs administered by the Bureau of International Labor Affairs (ILAB). These longstanding, bipartisan programs are the backbone of U.S. efforts to uphold labor standards in global trade, combat child and forced labor and protect American and global workers and businesses from unfair competition.

“This case is about more than funding – it’s about protecting workers and enforcing the law,” said Shawna Bader-Blau, Executive Director of the Solidarity Center. “When governments or companies exploit workers to cut costs, it drags down wages and standards everywhere – including in the U.S. These programs are vital to ensuring fair trade and dignity on the job, from Honduras to Ohio.”

CLICK HERE TO READ THE FULL STATEMENT