Solicitation of Nominations for the Iqbal Masih Award for the Elimination of Child Labor

DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Bureau of International Labor Affairs

Solicitation of Nominations for the United States Department of Labor’s Iqbal Masih Award for the Elimination of Child Labor

The U.S. Department of Labor’s Iqbal Masih Award for the Elimination of Child Labor presented by Secretary Hilda Solis, United States Department of Labor, 200 Constitution Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20210:

1. Subject: The U.S. Department of Labor’s Iqbal Masih Award for the Elimination of Child Labor.

2. Purpose: To outline the eligibility criteria, the nomination process and the administrative procedures for the Iqbal Masih Award for the Elimination of Child Labor, and to solicit nominations for the U.S. Department of Labor’s Iqbal Masih Award for the Elimination of Child Labor.

3. Originator: Office of Child Labor, Forced Labor and Human Trafficking of the Bureau of International Labor Affairs (ILAB/OCFT).

4. Background: The award is to recognize exceptional efforts to reduce the worst forms of child labor and is in response to a Senate Committee mandate (Significant Report 110-107 DM/ILAB), which directs 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.

In view of inspiring and motivating those who are working to eliminate the worst forms of child labor, the award’s two major goals are to:

1. Honor and give public recognition to a recipient demonstrating extraordinary efforts to combat the worst forms of child labor internationally, and who shares qualities demonstrated by Iqbal Masih including leadership, courage, integrity, and a search to end the labor exploitation of children.

2. Raise awareness about the worst forms of child labor internationally.

5. Eligibility Criteria: The following criteria apply to the nominees of the U.S. Department of Labor’s Iqbal Masih Award for the Elimination of Child Labor:

A. The nominees may include individuals, companies, organizations, or national governments who have:

1. Implemented extraordinary efforts that contribute towards the reduction of the worst forms of child labor.

2. Generated positive international attention in support of efforts to reduce the worst forms of child labor.

3. Inspired others, including young persons, to become champions against the worst forms of child labor following the spirit and example of Iqbal Masih.

4. Fomented constructive change regarding the labor exploitation of children under great odds or at great personal cost.

B. Nominations may be submitted by other persons and entities with the knowledge and permission of the nominee.

6. Nomination Submission Requirements:

A. Nominations will identify the proposed candidate and include a justification statement.

B. The nomination packages should be limited to information relevant to the nominee. Nomination packages should be no longer than two (2) typed pages double-spaced. A page is 8.5 x 11 (on one side only) with one-inch margins (top, bottom, and

sides).

C. Nomination packages must include the following for consideration:

1. An executive summary about the nominee, which clearly identifies the specific attributes of the nominee related to the award as listed in Section 5(A).

2. A data summary on the nominee. See Section 6(D).

D. A data summary on the Nominee will include the following:

1. Name(s) of the individual, company, organization or national government being nominated.

2. Full street address, telephone number and e-mail address of nominee.

3. Name, title, street address, telephone number and e-mail address of the person or organization submitting the nomination.

E. Timing and Acceptable Methods of Submission of Nominations:

Nomination packages must be submitted via email to [email protected] (will need to set up this account) by [Insert Date]. Any application received after 4:45 p.m. EDT on [Insert Date], will not be considered. Confirmation of receipt of nominations will be made via email.

7. The Administrative Review Process:

A. ILAB/OCFT will perform preliminary administrative review to determine the sufficiency of all submitted application packages.

B. ILAB/OCFT will conduct an initial review of the nominations received and will identify a list of candidates to be considered.

C. A panel established by the Department of Labor will perform a secondary review to identify the top semi-finalists. D. The Secretary of Labor will conduct the final review and selection.

8. Other Factors to be Considered During the Administrative Review Process:

A. Receipt of this award will not preclude a nominee from being considered for the U.S. Department of Labor’s Iqbal Masih Award for the Elimination of Child Labor in subsequent years. Programs and activities serving as the basis of a prior award, however, may not be considered as the basis for a subsequent award application.

9. Procedures Following Selection: Awardees will be notified of their selection via the contact person identified in the application package at least four weeks prior to the awards ceremony. Non-selected nominees will also be notified within 30 days of the selection of the awardees.

10. Location: DOL anticipates that the awards ceremony will be held during the month of XXXX at a location to be determined by the Secretary of Labor.

Paperwork Reduction Act Notice (Pub. L. 104-13): Persons are not required to respond to a collection of information unless it displays a currently valid Office of Management and Budget (OMB) control number. This collection of information is approved under OMB Number 1290-0007 (Expiration Date: XX/XX/XXXX). The obligation to respond to this information collection is voluntary; however, only nominations that follow the nomination procedures outlined in this notice will receive consideration. The average time to respond to this information of collection is estimated to be 10 hours per response; including the time for reviewing instructions, researching existing data sources, gathering and maintaining the data needed, and completing and reviewing the collection of information. Submit comments regarding this estimate; including suggestions for reducing response time to [email protected].

USDOL is also very interested in suggestions about your experience in preparing and filing this nomination packet for the U.S. Department of Labor’s Iqbal Masih Award for the Elimination of Child Labor. Your comments will be very useful to the ILAB/OCFT in making improvements in our solicitation for nominations for this award in subsequent years. All comments are strictly voluntary and strictly private. We would appreciate your taking a few minutes to tell us--for example, whether you thought the instructions were sufficiently clear; what you liked or disliked; what worked or didn't work; whether it satisfied your need for information or if it didn't, or anything else that you think is important for us to know. Your comments will be most helpful if you can be very specific in relating your experience.

Signed at Washington, D.C., this [Insert Date].

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