Panama denies US child labor report

Panama’s  Minister of Labor has rejected a  damaging US report on child labor that could affect ratification of the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with the United States.

The report came on the same day, October 3, that President Barac

k Obama sent the long delayed FTA agreement to Congress.

Minister of Labor, Alma Cortez told La Prensa that America did not consult the MInistry  and  said that on Monday she told a representative of the United States Embassy of  Panama's efforts to eradicate child labor.

The statements comes after the Associated Press agency published a report on Monday that the United States "included melons grown in Panama on an international list of products made ??with child labor in 2011.” The report says that worldwide an estimated 215 million children work in factories and mines.

Cortes said that through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs she will present her concerns to the US because Panama was never asked for information or documents on studies and monitoring that has been produced by the Bureau of Child Labor of the Ministry. "We hope to have the opportunity to make the necessary clarifications."

The minister said that regular inspections are made ??in the growing areas to ensure that no child labor  is used.

 Alexis Bravo, president of Panama’s Union of  Non Traditional Agricultural Exporters (Gantrap), said that companies that belong to the guild do not use child labor and pointed out that Panama’s exports to European counries must pass strict controls.
"We are convinced that we have made great advances in not using child labor," said Bravo. He added that  Gantrap that had lowered the participation of indigenous workers in the growing areas.