Supporting Statement for Paperwork Reduction Act Submission
Iqbal Masih Award
Justification
A.1. Circumstances that Make Collection of Information Necessary
The U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of International Labor Affairs (DOL/ILAB) seeks to collect information from the public as part of a process for nominating candidates for The United States Department of Labor’s Iqbal Masih Award for the Elimination of Child Labor. The Iqbal Masih Award is a non-monetary award in recognition of exceptional efforts to reduce the worst forms of child labor. The award is in response to Senate Committee (Significant Report 110-107 DM/ILAB) language in fiscal year 2008, directing the Secretary of Labor:
to establish an annual non-monetary award recognizing the extraordinary efforts by an individual, company, organization or national government toward the reduction of the worst forms of child labor. The award shall be named, ‘‘the United States Department of Labor’s Iqbal Masih Award for the Elimination of Child Labor.’’ Iqbal Masih was a Pakistani carpet weaver sold into slavery at age four. He escaped from his servitude at age 12 and became an outspoken advocate against child slavery. He told the world of his plight when he received the Reebok Human Rights Award in 1994. He was tragically killed a year later at the age of 13 in his native Pakistan.
The award’s two major goals are to: a) honor and give public recognition to a recipient demonstrating extraordinary efforts to combat the worst forms of child labor internationally; and b) identify those who share qualities demonstrated by Iqbal Masih, including leadership, courage, integrity, and a search to end the labor exploitation of children and raise awareness about the worst forms of child labor internationally.
A.2 Purpose of Data Collection and Use of Information
The purpose of the information collection is to allow the public to nominate candidates for this award. In 2008, staff from ILAB and the Departments of State (DOS) submitted nominations on the basis of their knowledge of important actors working worldwide to combat exploitive child labor. Henceforth, ILAB wishes to cast a wider net by seeking public nominations to identify candidates that are making a significant contribution to combat child labor, but whose efforts may not yet be widely known outside of their country or communities. The information collected will be used by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of International Labor affairs to select the recipient of the Iqbal Masih award. For each nomination (that can include individuals, companies, organizations, or national governments), the data collection instrument will be used to collect information about nominees that have:
implemented extraordinary efforts that contribute towards the reduction of the worst forms of child labor;
generated positive international attention in support of efforts to reduce the worst forms of child labor;
inspired others, including young persons, to become champions against the worst forms of child labor following the spirit and example of Iqbal Masih; and
fomented constructive change regarding the labor exploitation of children under great odds or at great personal cost.
Nominations will identify the proposed candidate and include a nomination package. The nomination packages will be limited to information relevant to the nominee. Nomination packages should be no longer than two (2) typed pages double-spaced. Nomination packages must include the following information: a) a data summary on the nominee that includes name(s) of the individual, company, organization or national government being nominated; b) and full street address, telephone number and e-mail address of nominee, and c) an executive summary about the nominee, which clearly identifies the specific attributes of the nominee related to the four criteria for selection, listed above.
A.3 Use of Technology to Collect Data
The information will be collected electronically, but may also be submitted via regular mail or fax.
A.4 Efforts to Identify Duplication
This collection does not duplicate any other data collection being done by DOL or any other federal agency since Congress specifically directed the Secretary of Labor to make this award through the Bureau of International Labor Affairs.
A.5 Effect of Data Collection on Small Businesses and Small Entities
The collection of information does not impact small business. Small entities such as non-governmental organizations will be able to submit nomination packets on proposed nominees (i.e., not more than 2 pages).
A.6 Consequences of Less Frequent Data Collection
If the nominations are not submitted by the public, the pool of potential candidates is limited to those already known to U.S. government agencies such as DOL or DOS.
A.7 Special Circumstances
There are no special circumstances that would require respondents to report information more often than quarterly; to prepare a response in fewer than 30 days; to submit more than an original and two copies of any document; to retain any records for more than three years; or to conduct a statistical survey or to use statistical data classification that has not been reviewed and approved by OMB. The information collection will not include a pledge of confidentiality that is not supported by authority established in statute or regulation or which unnecessarily impedes sharing of data with other agencies for compatible confidential use; and will not require respondents to submit a proprietary trade secret, or other confidential information.
A.8 Date of Public Comment Notification in the Federal Register and Comments Received
The sixty-day notice for public commentary was published in the Federal Register on May 29, 2009. The Department did not receive any comments that addressed the award or nomination requirements specific to this request in response to the sixty-day notice.
A.9 Payment of Incentives
There will be no payment or remuneration to respondents.
A.10 Assurances of Confidentiality
DOL will assure respondents that the nominations submitted will be confidential based on agency policy, and no nominations will be accepted without agreement of the identified nominee.
A.11 Justifications of Questions of a Sensitive Nature
There will be no questions of a sensitive nature, but the top three finalists nominated will be vetted by U.S. Embassies in the country where the nominees are located to ensure that they are acceptable candidates for receipt of an award by the U.S. government (i.e., nominee is not a member of a terrorist organization; award would advance U.S. policy interests, and the nominee agrees to be nominated for the award).
A.12 Estimates of the Hour Burden
On the basis of past experience from internal USDOL and State Department nominations for the 2008 Iqbal Masih Award, the estimate of the hour burden is:
Collection of Information on nominee: 6 hours
Write-up of nomination: 3 hours 55 minutes
Submission of Nomination by electronic mail: 5 minutes
Response Time: 10 hours
Number of Responses: 30
A.13 Estimates of the Total Annual Cost Burden
The estimated cost burden of agency and respondent time is under $10.
A.14 Estimates of the Annualized Costs to the Federal Government
The estimated annual costs to the government for the Iqbal Masih award process are zero.
A.15 Program Changes
This is a new data collection so this question does not apply.
A.16 Plans for Tabulation and Publication
Plans for Tabulation – The information collected will be reviewed by a nominee selection panel on the basis of the selection criteria detailed in A.2 above.
Plans for Publication - The award recipient will be announced on the DOL website.
A.17 Approval to not Display the Expiration Date for OMB Approval
We do not request an exception to display of the Expiration Date for OMB Approval.
A.18 Exception to Certification Statement
We do not request an exception to the certification statement “Certification for Paperwork Reduction Act Submissions” (OMB Form 83).
B. Collection of Information Employing Statistical Methods
No statistical methods will be used.
| File Type | application/msword |
| File Title | Supporting Statement for Paperwork Reduction Act Submission |
| Author | ECN User |
| Last Modified By | ECN USER |
| File Modified | 2009-08-31 |
| File Created | 2009-08-28 |