Obama administration tackles child labor

Countries that condone child labor are coming under scrutiny from the Obama administration.

The Department of Labor is investigating the worst forms of child labor around the world, from Russian children who are forced into pornography to those who mine for coal in China or farm tobacco in Nicaragua. 

{mosads}The Labor Department’s Bureau of International Labor Affairs released a report last month identifying child labor practices in 140 countries around the world and suggested ways to eliminate what it sees as a global problem.

It is now opening the report up to public comment. This information will be used to help the Obama administration fight child labor practices overseas and also used in a report to Congress.

By law, the Obama administration can block countries that do not make improvements from certain preferential tariff programs. 

The public has until Jan. 4, 2016, to comment.