Embassy of the Republic of the Marshall Islands

2433 Massachusetts Avenue, N.W. Washington, D.C. 20008-2805 Tel. (202) 234-5414 Fax. (202) 232-3236 Email: [email protected]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Additional Contact Information: Compact Negotiation Office/Ministry of Foreign Affairs Tel: (692) 625-4451 or 625-3181 Fax: (692) 625-4403 or 625-4979 Email: [email protected]

Agreement on Labor Practices in the Compact

Washington D.C.—April 6, 2003— RMI Foreign Minister Gerald M. Zackios and US Compact Negotiator Al Short initialed changes to Section 175 of the Compact of Free Association on March 31, 2003. Section 175 of the Compact protects Marshallese workers in the United States from unlawful labor recruitment practices and holds the recruiter accountable on actions that may harm Marshallese citizens.

The U.S. had first proposed a labor recruitment agreement in July of last year, which was inexorably tied to proposed U.S. changes to existing Compact immigration provisions that the RMI found unacceptable. It was this linkage between the labor recruiter issue and immigration that the RMI found objectionable. If agreed to in that form, the labor agreement would have diluted the rights of Marshallese citizens to work in the U.S. by providing a new basis to impose immigration regulations with additional monitoring and tracking requirements.

When the labor recruitment issue was discussed in February, the RMI indicated that it supported an agreement to prevent abusive labor recruiter practices provided that such an agreement was de-linked from the immigration issue. The RMI proposed that such an agreement be added to Section 175 of the Compact that deals with matters of mutual law enforcement assistance, support and cooperation. The U.S. accepted this proposal that resulted in the governments being able to reach agreement on provisions that should provide a framework to address labor recruitment and employment abuses of Marshallese 2 without creating burdens and new requirements for the Marshallese citizens working in the United States.

Highlights of the new labor recruitment agreement:

 Persons or entities engaged in the business of recruiting labor in the RMI to work in the United States will be required to register in the RMI.  Recruiters will be required to provide information concerning the US employers they represent; information concerning Marshallese recruited to work in the US; and fees received in connection with the recruitment efforts.  Recruiters will be required to provide RMI citizens with information concerning their rights while employed in the U.S. so that RMI citizens are fully informed of their rights and obligations.  The RMI and U.S. Governments agree to share information concerning recruiters and recruitment practices to allow for better enforcement of U.S. and RMI laws concerning unlawful labor practices and abuses.

“We were able to separate two separate issues that we believe are vital and important to the betterment of the Marshallese people seeking employment and residence in the U.S.,” said Foreign Minister Gerald M. Zackios. “By separating the two issues into two separate sections of the Compact, Marshallese citizens will not be required to obtain the Employment Authorization Document (EAD) in order to work and will also be protected under U.S. and RMI law from abusing recruiters.”