PH Consulate General in Los Angeles and US Department of Labor Renews Commitment to Labor Rights

PH Consul General Cruz and WHD Regional Administrator Rosalez signing the AEU

LOS ANGELES 16 May 2025 – The Philippine Consulate General in Los Angeles and the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD) signed the Arrangement Establishing an Understanding (AEU) at the WHD - Los Angeles District Office. The document, which is a renewal of the AEU signed in 2019, aims to promote better understanding of workplace rights for Filipinos in the U.S. Southwest.

Consul General Adelio Angelito S. Cruz signed on behalf of the Consulate General while Regional Administrator Ruben Rosalez represented the WHD. Consul General Cruz expressed his gratitude to the WHD for actively pursuing the AEU and for helping distressed Filipino workers.

“We have our work cut out for us. We want to thank [the WHD] for always being there to support us. We know how difficult it is working here, especially those who are still waiting for the adjustment of their status… they work so hard but they suffer in silence. Through [the WHD], we are able to not just give back what they deserve in wages but it’s giving them back hope that… we are there to help them and protect them,” said Consul General Cruz.

According to Mr. Rosalez, the AEU will help continue the work being done to help Filipino citizens – regardless of their status in the U.S. – who are victims of oppressive labor practices.

The AEU follows the Joint Declaration between the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs and the U.S. Department of Labor aimed  at  improving  Filipino  workers’ awareness of workplace laws, which was signed in Washington, D.C. in January 2025. END

(L-R: WHD Community Outreach Specialist Randolph Tan, Assistant District Director Siriporn Poondee, Assistant District Director Eduardo Huerta, District Director Kimchi Bui, Regional Administrator Ruben Rosalez, PHL Consul General Adelio Angelito S. Cruz, Vice Consul Levi Anthony B. Malaylay, Assistant Labor Attaché Maria Corazon Venus N. Abad, and Assistance-to-Nationals Officer Ma. Antoinette B. Villa)

For more information, visit https://www.philippineconsulatela.org  , https://www.facebook.com/PHLinLA/, https://twitter.com/PHLinLosAngeles  or https://www.instagram.com/phlinla/.