WASHINGTON, Feb. 17 (UPI) -- The U.S. Department of Labor said Tuesday it would partner with the Indian government on a $40 million effort against exploitive child labor.
The INDUS Project, a joint effort between the United States and India and the International Labor Organization, is the Department of Labor's largest international technical assistance program. Its goal is to help eliminate child labor in 10 hazardous Indian industries: cigarette-making, brassware, bricks, fireworks, footwear, bangles, locks, matches, quarried stones and silk.
In addition, India has agreed to conduct a review of existing child-labor elimination efforts in the carpet-making industry.
"This project will remove children from exploitive conditions, provide educational alternatives for child laborers, and increase awareness of laws in India that restrict child labor practices," Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao said in announcing the project.
