PH, US Pledge Cooperation in Addressing Workplace Discrimination
Philippine Ambassador to the United States Jose Manuel G. Romualdez and US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission Acting Chair Victoria Lipnic sign MOU, reaffirming mutual commitment to address workplace discrimination on 28 March 2018 at the Philippine Embassy Chancery Annex.
02 April 2018 WASHINGTON, D.C.—The Philippine Embassy and the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EOCC) reaffirmed their mutual commitment to address workplace discrimination by concluding a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) at the Philippine Chancery Annex building on 28 March 2018.
The two parties declare that the MOU’s overall objective is to maintain a collaborative relationship to provide Filipino nationals in the United States with information, guidance, and access to education and training resources to help them understand and exercise their workplace rights, particularly with regard to reducing violations against them under the laws and regulations that are administered and enforced by the EEOC.
“We value this partnership as a vital component of our efforts to assist the over 3.9 million Filipinos and Filipino-Americans in the US in protecting their rights and facilitating the creation of safer and fairer work environments,” remarked Philippine Ambassador to the United States Jose Manuel G. Romualdez.
“The Embassy looks forward to furthering our cooperation with the EEOC in ensuring that Filipino workers in the United States are treated fairly and accorded the rights due them under US law,” Ambassador Romualdez added.
Ambassador Romualdez acknowledged the positive results of previous collaboration that was made possible by the first MOU signed in 2015. He expressed appreciation to EEOC’s District Representatives who have participated in the Embassy’s consular outreach missions in the US Southeast, as he cited their contributions to enhancing the awareness of Filipino workers of their rights as well as remedies available to them under existing labor laws regardless of their status.
“Filipinos and Americans share the crucial core values of freedom and fairness,” said EEOC Acting Chair Victoria A. Lipnic. “That’s why the EEOC and the Philippine government are renewing this major agreement to cooperate to fight employment discrimination and advance justice and opportunity for Filipinos in this country.”
The MOU between the Philippine Embassy and the EEOC has national coverage and will underpin subsequent arrangements between EEOC District and Field offices and the Philippine Consulates General across the United States. END
For more information, visit www.washingtonpe.dfa.gov.ph/ www.philippineembassy-usa.org or https://www.facebook.com/philippinesusa @philippinesusa on Twitter
Ambassador Jose Manuel G. Romualdez and EEOC Acting Chair Victoria Lipnic pose for a photo after the MOU signing held at the Philippine Embassy Chancery Annex on 28 March 2018.
Ambassador Romualdez (5th from left) and Acting Chair Lipnic (5th from right) together with Philippine Embassy and EEOC officials at the Philippine Embassy Chancery Annex on 28 March 2018.