Opportunity Information: Apply for FOA ILAB 21 06
The U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of International Labor Affairs (ILAB) announced a discretionary funding opportunity (FOA ILAB 21 06) to support a technical assistance project in Malaysia focused on reducing forced labor and/or child labor linked to two key export-oriented sectors: palm oil and garments. ILAB planned to make a single award through a cooperative agreement, with an estimated total funding amount of up to $5,000,000 in federal funds (pending availability). The project period could run for as long as 4.5 years, or 54 months, starting from the award's effective date. This opportunity falls under CFDA 17.401 and was published on July 2, 2021, with an application deadline of September 3, 2021, by 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time.
At its core, the grant was designed to strengthen the ability of workers and civil society actors to prevent and respond to labor exploitation in supply chains where risks are widely recognized, particularly among migrant and otherwise vulnerable workers. The project was expected to deliver progress across three specific outcomes. First, it aimed to increase advocacy by workers and civil society organizations to address forced labor and/or child labor in palm oil and garment production. In practice, this outcome points toward activities that help workers and community groups identify abusive practices, organize around shared concerns, engage employers and government agencies, and push for policy and workplace changes that reduce exploitation.
Second, the opportunity emphasized increasing worker voice within the implementation of a social compliance system intended to eliminate forced labor and/or child labor in these industries. This reflects ILAB's interest in ensuring that compliance efforts are not only top-down audits or corporate checklists, but systems where workers can meaningfully participate and influence how labor standards are monitored and enforced. A worker-centered approach typically means improving channels for worker feedback, involving worker representatives in oversight, strengthening worker organizations, and ensuring that compliance mechanisms detect real-world coercion and abuse rather than relying solely on paperwork or employer-controlled processes.
Third, the project was expected to increase access to remedies for workers who have been exploited through forced labor and/or child labor. This outcome highlights the importance of practical, accessible pathways for workers to seek help and obtain redress, such as recovery of unpaid wages or illegal recruitment fees, safe complaint mechanisms, referrals to legal or social services, and other forms of restitution or corrective action. Remedy-focused work often also includes improving knowledge of rights, reducing retaliation risks, and strengthening the capacity of service providers and institutions that handle labor disputes and victim assistance.
Overall, this funding opportunity supported a single, multi-year initiative intended to reduce severe labor exploitation risks in Malaysia's palm oil and garment supply chains by strengthening advocacy, embedding worker voice into compliance systems, and improving real access to remedies. The cooperative agreement structure also signals that ILAB expected to have substantial involvement in the project, typically through ongoing collaboration, technical direction, and coordinated monitoring of progress toward the three stated outcomes.Apply for FOA ILAB 21 06
- The Department of Labor, Bureau of International Labor Affairs in the other (see text field entitled explanation of other category of funding activity for clarification) sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Project to Combat Forced Labor and Child Labor in the Production of Goods in Malaysia" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 17.401.
- This funding opportunity was created on Jul 02, 2021.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Sep 03, 2021 The closing date for receipt of applications under this announcement is September 3, 2021. Applications must be received no later than 40000 p.m. Eastern Time.. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $5,000,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is this funding opportunity?
This is a discretionary funding opportunity from the U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of International Labor Affairs (ILAB), identified as FOA ILAB 21 06. It was designed to support a technical assistance project in Malaysia aimed at reducing forced labor and/or child labor in specific export-oriented supply chains.
Who is the federal agency offering the grant?
The opportunity was announced by the U.S. Department of Labor (USDOL), Bureau of International Labor Affairs (ILAB).
What is the CFDA number for this opportunity?
The opportunity falls under CFDA 17.401.
Where is the project expected to take place?
The project focus is Malaysia.
Which sectors are targeted by the project?
The project targets two key export-oriented sectors where risks are widely recognized: palm oil and garments.
What labor issues is the project meant to address?
The project is intended to reduce forced labor and/or child labor linked to Malaysia's palm oil and garment supply chains, with particular attention to risks affecting migrant and other vulnerable workers.
What is the overall purpose or core goal of the grant?
At its core, the grant was designed to strengthen the ability of workers and civil society actors to prevent and respond to labor exploitation in supply chains where forced labor and/or child labor risks are widely recognized.
How many awards did ILAB plan to make under this opportunity?
ILAB planned to make a single award.
What type of award instrument is expected?
The planned instrument is a cooperative agreement, which generally indicates substantial federal involvement in the project during implementation.
What does it mean that this is a cooperative agreement?
Based on the description provided, the cooperative agreement structure signals that ILAB expected to have substantial involvement, typically through ongoing collaboration, technical direction, and coordinated monitoring of progress toward the stated outcomes.
How much funding was anticipated?
The estimated total funding amount was up to $5,000,000 in federal funds, pending availability.
How long could the project last?
The project period could run for as long as 4.5 years (54 months), starting from the award's effective date.
When was the opportunity published?
The opportunity was published on July 2, 2021.
What was the application deadline?
The application deadline was September 3, 2021, by 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time.
What are the three expected outcomes for the project?
The project was expected to deliver progress across three outcomes: (1) increased advocacy by workers and civil society organizations to address forced labor and/or child labor in palm oil and garment production; (2) increased worker voice within the implementation of a social compliance system intended to eliminate forced labor and/or child labor in these industries; and (3) increased access to remedies for workers exploited through forced labor and/or child labor.
What does "increased advocacy by workers and civil society organizations" mean in practice?
It points toward activities that help workers and community groups identify abusive practices, organize around shared concerns, engage employers and government agencies, and push for policy and workplace changes that reduce exploitation in palm oil and garment production.
What does "increasing worker voice within a social compliance system" refer to?
It reflects ILAB's interest in ensuring compliance efforts are not only top-down audits or corporate checklists, but systems where workers can meaningfully participate and influence how labor standards are monitored and enforced.
What does a "worker-centered approach" to compliance generally include?
As described, a worker-centered approach typically includes improving channels for worker feedback, involving worker representatives in oversight, strengthening worker organizations, and ensuring that compliance mechanisms detect real-world coercion and abuse rather than relying only on paperwork or employer-controlled processes.
What does "increased access to remedies" mean for exploited workers?
This outcome emphasizes practical and accessible pathways for workers to seek help and obtain redress, such as recovery of unpaid wages or illegal recruitment fees, safe complaint mechanisms, referrals to legal or social services, and other forms of restitution or corrective action.
What kinds of supportive activities are commonly associated with remedy-focused work (based on the description)?
The description notes that remedy-focused work often includes improving knowledge of rights, reducing retaliation risks, and strengthening the capacity of service providers and institutions that handle labor disputes and victim assistance.
Who are the primary intended beneficiaries or focus groups?
The project focus highlights workers in supply chains with recognized exploitation risks, particularly migrant workers and other vulnerable workers, along with civil society actors involved in prevention and response.
Is the project limited to only one industry?
No. The opportunity specifically names two sectors: palm oil and garments.
Is the funding intended for direct services, systems change, or both?
Based on the stated outcomes, it is aimed at both systems change (advocacy and worker voice in social compliance systems) and practical support for workers (improving access to remedies and strengthening relevant service and dispute-resolution capacity).
How does this opportunity define success at a high level?
Success is framed as measurable progress toward the three outcomes: stronger advocacy, meaningful worker voice embedded in social compliance systems, and improved access to remedies for workers who have experienced forced labor and/or child labor.
What supply chain context does the opportunity focus on?
It focuses on export-oriented supply chains in Malaysia where forced labor and/or child labor risks are widely recognized, specifically in palm oil and garments.
Does the opportunity emphasize prevention, response, or both?
Both. The grant was designed to strengthen the ability of workers and civil society actors to prevent and respond to labor exploitation, while also improving access to remedies when exploitation occurs.
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