Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis and ambassadors sign agreements on migrant worker rights

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, WE'RE GOING TO
BEGIN OUR PROGRAM SHORTLY.
PLEASE TAKE A MOMENT TO SILENCE ALL OF
YOUR ELECTRONICS, THANK YOU.
AND NOW, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, PLEASE
WELCOME ACTING DEPUTY UNDERSECRETARY
OF LABOR FOR INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS AND THE
DIRECTOR OF THE BUREAU OF INTERNATIONAL
LABOR AFFAIRS, CAROL PIER.
[ APPLAUSE ]
GOOD MORNING IT IS A PLEASURE TO BEGIN
TODAY'S CEREMONY.
MY NAME IS CAROL PIER, DIRECTOR OF ILAB
HERE AT THE LABOR DEPARTMENT.
THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE TODAY TO
MARK THIS HISTORIC OCCASION.
AND SPECIAL WELCOME TO THOSE WATCHING
THIS EVENT ONLINE VIA TWITTER AND AT
VIEWINGS HOSTED IN EMBASSIES AND
CONSUEALATES THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY
AND AROUND THE WORLD.
FOR THOSE WATCHING ONLINE AND
FOLLOWING ON TWITTER, WE ENCOURAGE
YOU TO SUBMIT COMMENTS AND QUESTIONS
THROUGH THE HARB TAG "# DOLATWORK,"
D?O?L?AT?WORK.
SECRETARY SOLIS AND THE AMBASSADORS
JOINING HER TODAY LOOK FORWARD TO
ADDRESSING SOME
OF THE ISSUES YOU WILL BE RAISING.
WITHOUT FURTHER ADO, LET ME WELCOME
THE PRINCIPALS TAKING PART IN TODAY'S
CEREMONY. PLEASE JOIN ME IN WELCOMING:
MY COLLEAGUES FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF
LABOR, DR. DAVID MICHAELS
AND LIBBY HENDRIX.
[ APPLAUSE ]
AMBASSADOR JORGE RAMON HERNÁNDEZ
ALCERRO OF HONDURAS.
[ APPLAUSE ]
AMBASSADOR JOSE L. CUISIA JR. OF THE
PHILIPPINES, AMBASSADOR HAROLD W.
FORSYTH OF PERU.
[ APPLAUSE ]
AMBASSDOR NATHALIE CELY OF ECUADOR.
[ APPLAUSE ]
AND PLEASE WELCOME, UNITED STATES
SECRETARY OF LABOR HILDA
SOLIS AND A TRUE CHAMPION OF WORKER'S RIGHTS.
[ APPLAUSE ]
HELLO, THANK YOU.
BUENOS DIAS.
IT IS MY PLEASURE TO WELCOME YOU ALL TO
THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR FOR THIS
IMPORTANT EVENT.
I AM SO GLAD TO BE JOINED TODAY BY,
AMBASSADOR HERNÁNDEZ ALCERRO OF
HONDURAS, AMBASSADOR CUISIA OF THE
PHILIPPINES, AMBASSADOR FORSYTH OF PERU
AND AMBASSADOR CELY OF ECUADOR.
PLEASE GIVE THEM ANOTHER
ROUND OFAPPLAUSE.
[ APPLAUSE ]
BIENVENIDOS Y MUCHISIMAS GRACIAS POR ES
TAR AQUI.
HOY NOSTROS.
I'M ALSO PLEASED TO HAVE WITH US TWO
IMPORTANT LEADERS HERE AT THE
DEPARTMENT OF LABOR.
ONE IS MY
ASSISTANT SECRETARY DAVID MICHAELS
DIRECTS OUR WORKER SAFETY EFFORTS AS THE
HEAD OF OSHA.
HE IS SEATED RILLET HERE.
??RIGHT HERE.
PLEASE GIVE HIM A ROUND OF APPLAUSE.
KD??[ APPLAUSE ]
AND LIBBY HENDRIX IS HERE REP ?
?REPRESENTING OUR WAGE AND HOUR
DIVISION TO ENSURE WORKERS ARE PAID
WHAT THEY'RE LEGALLY OWED.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR BEING HERE.
I'D LIKE TO BEGIN WITH STARTING BY THAT
TODAY WE GATHERED TO SHARE OUR COMMITMENT
TO PROTECT THE LABOR RIGHTS OF MIGRANT
WORKERS IN THE UNITED STATES.
WORKERS FROM HONDURAS, THE
PHILIPPINES, PERU AND ECUADOR ARE AN
IMPORTANT PART OF THE AMERICAN LABOR FORCE.
THEY WORK IN HARD TO FILL OCCUPATIONS.
AND THEY PAY TAXES, RENT AND RECEIVE FEW
GOVERNMENT SERVICES.
WE'RE GRATEFUL FOR THEIR CONTRIBUTIONS
TO OUR ECONOMY.
AND I WANT TO TELL THEM ON BEHALF OF THE
DEPARTMENT OF LABOR:
MUCHISIMAS GRACIAS POR SU APOYO.
LO AGRADECEMOS MUCHO.
I'M PROUD TO LEAD AN AGENCY THAT WILL
NOT ALLOW ANYONE TO BE DENIED HIS OR HER
RIGHTFUL PAY, ESPECIALLY WHEN SO MANY
ARE WORKING LONG, HARD AND OFTEN
MANY, MANY DANGEROUS HOURS.
UNFORTUNATELY, MIGRANT WORKERS CAN BE
VULNERABLE TO ABUSE.
WHEN THEY ARE MADE TO WORK IN UNSAFE
CONDITIONS, OR NOT PAID THE WAGES
THEY'RE OWED, IT HAS A RIPPLE EFFECT
ACROSS OUR WHOLE ECONOMY.
I'M TALKING ABOUT THOSE WAGES THAT ARE
DUE EVERY WORKER WHETHER IT'S MINIMUM
WAGE OR OVERTIME.
LABOR LAW VIOLATIONS CREATE DOWNWARD
PRESSURES ON THE WAGES AND WORKING
CONDITIONS OF ALL WORKERS.
OUR MOTIVATION FOR SIGNING THIS
AGREEMENT IS STRAIGHT FORWARD: IF WE
WERE TO ALLOW A FEW UNSCRUPULOUS
EMPLOYERS TO EXPLOIT AND UNDERPAY THEIR
WORKERS, THIS WOULD SEND A MESSAGE TO
OTHER COMPANIES THAT IT'S OKAY FOR THEM
TO DO THE SAME TO COMPETE.
IF THAT CONTINUES TO HAPPEN, ALL OF US
WILL LOSE.
WHEN WE FORCE OUR LAWS FOR ALL
WORKERS IN THIS COUNTRY, THE COMPANIES
THAT PLAY BY THE RULES GET AN ADVANTAGE.
WHEN BUSINESSES ARE ENCOURAGED BY OUR
GOVERNMENT TO PROVIDE LAWFUL WAGES
AND SAFE WORK CONDITIONS, EVERYONE WINS.
IT'S SMART POLICY AND IT'S
US STAYING TRUE TO OUR AMERICAN VALUES.
SO TODAY WE TAKE A STEP TO LEVEL THE
PLAYING FIELD.
AT THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR WE BEGUN BY
MAKING A COMMITMENT TO ENSURE TAG ALL
WORKERS ARE SAFE ON THE JOB AND FULLY
AND FAIRLY COMP SIT??COMPENSATED FOR
THEIR HORDE WORK.
SINCE 2009, I'VE HIRED MORE THAN 300 NEW
WAGE AND HOUR INVESTIGATORS.
THIS BRINGS THE TOTAL NUMBER TO MORE
THAN 1000.
AND MORE THAN 600 OF OUR INVESTIGATORS
ARE BILINGUAL.
OUR WORK AGENCY IS WORKING HARD TO
REACH OUT TO PEOPLE IN THEIR NATIVE LANGUAGE.
AND IN 2010, OSHA HELD ITS FIRST EVER
NATIONAL ACTION SUMMIT FOR LATINO WORKERS.
WE HAD A THOUSAND INDIVIDUALS ATTEND
THAT SUMMIT.
SINCE THAT SUMMIT, WE HAVE REACHED OUT
TO HUNDREDS OF ORGANIZATIONS TO
PROTECT ALL VULNERABLE WORKERS.
WE'VE TRANSLATED OUR SAFETY MATERIALS
INTO SPANISH AND HIRED BILINGUAL
INSPECTORS TO GO TO JOB SITES AND TALK TO
PEOPLE IN THEIR NATIVE LANGUAGE ABOUT
SAFETY CONCERNS.
WE HAVE TRIED TO BRING DOWN THOSE
BARRIERS AND TO HELP PEOPLE OUT.
WE'VE WORK WIDE CONSULATES ALL OVER THE COUNTRY.
ALL WORKERS IN AMERICA HAVE A LEGAL
RIGHT TO SAFE, CLEAN WORKING CONDITIONS.
AND THEY HAVE THE RIGHT TO GET PAID THE
FULL WAGES THEY ARE OWED.
THIS MEANS NO LESS THAN $7.25 AN HOUR,
THE FEDERAL MINIMUM WAGE.
WE UNDERSTAND THAT MANY MIGRANT
WORKERS ARE AFRAID TO REPORT
MISTREATMENT BECAUSE IT CAN LEAD
TO ABUSE OR TERMINATION ON THE JOB.
THAT'S WHY THIS PARTNERSHIP IS SO
IMPORTANT TO PEOPLE HERE AT THE
DEPARTMENT OF LABOR AND TO SHOWS
CONSULATES THAT WE'RE WORKING WITH TODAY.
SO THE BEAUTY OF THIS PROGRAM IS ITS SIMPLICITY.
WE'RE PARTNERING WITH THE INSTITUTIONS
WHERE THEY'RE MOST LIKELY TO GO FOR HELP,
THEIR OWN.
COUNTRY'S CONSULATE OFFICES.
WE'LL WORK WITH THE DIFFERENT
CONSULATES TO IDENTIFY VULNERABLE
WORKERS AND GETTING THEM THE
EDUCATION, INFORMATION AND TRAINING
THEY NEED TO PROTECT THEMSELVES.
WE'LL ALSO OFFER TRAINING TO EMPLOYERS
WHO UTILIZE MIGRANT WORKERS, SO THEY
UNDERSTAND THEIR LEGAL OBLIGATIONS.
WE KNOW THERE ARE MANY BUSINESS
BUSINESS OUT THERE THAT ARE RUN BY
IMMIGRANTS AND MAY NOT BE WELL VERSED
IN OUR LAWS HERE IN THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT SO IT IS OUR OBLIGATION IS
OUR UNDERSTANDING THAT WE HAVE TO
PROVIDE THEM WITH THAT INCREASED INFORMATION.
THE CONSULATES WILL HELP US SPREAD THE
WORD ABOUT THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR'S
TOLL?FREE HOT LINE WHERE WORKER K'S
REPORT SAFETY AND??WORKERS CAN REPORT
SAFETY AND WAGE VIOLATION AND I WANT
TO UNDERSCORE THESE CALLS ARE FREE AND
THAT THEY ARE CONFIDENTIAL.
INFORMATION WILL NOT BE SHARED WITH
OTHER AGENCIES.
WORKERS CAN CALL THE HOTLINE, DAY OR
NIGHT, AND SPEAK TO ADVOCATES IN THEIR
NATIVE LANGUAGE TO REPORT VIOLATIONS
OR SAFETY CONCERNS.
TODAY, WE FORMALIZE NEW PARTNERSHIPS
WITH THE EMBASSIES.
OF HONDURAS, THE PHILIPPINES, PERU AND ECUADOR.
THEY WILL HELP US COMMUNICATE WITH
WORKERS WHO WE MIGHT NOT OTHERWISE BE
ABLE TO REACH.
WITH THESE SIGNINGS, WE'RE PROUD THAT
WE'LL NOW HAVE 10 COUNTRY PARTNERSHIPS
IN PLACE.
WE HAVE SIGNED SIMILAR.
PARRENERSHIPS ALREADYY WITH MEXICO AND
NUMBER OF CENTRAL AMERICAN COUNTRIES.
TODAY WE'RE BROADENING OUR REACH
ACROSS THE GLOBE BY ENTERING INTO THIS
PARTNERSHIP WITH THE PHILIPPINES.
THE PARTNERSHIPS WE HAVE FORGED
WILL SAVE HOPEFULLY MILLIONS OF
LIVES AND LIVELIHOODS.
WITHOUT THEM, WORKPLACE HAZARDS AND
ABUSES MAY STAY HIDDEN.
THESE AGREEMENTS HAVE ALREADY HELPED
SO MANY PEOPLE.
EACH HAS A UNIQUE STORY.
I'D LIKE TO SHARE JUST ONE.
LIKE A MEXICAN MAN WHO OBTAINED A
WORK VISA AND CAME TO THIS COUNTRY TO
PROVIDE FOR HIS FAMILY BACK HOME.
HE WORKED LONG HOURS EVERY DAY AS A
LANDSCAPER, WITH THE HOPE OF SAVING
ENOUGH MONEY FOR CHRISTMAS PRESENTS
FOR HIS SEVEN CHILDREN AND A DOWN
PAYMENT ON A SMALL PIECE OF LAND FOR HIS
FAMILY TO LIVE ON.
BUT ON PAY DAY, HIS EMPLOYER CONFISCATED
A SIGNIFICANT PORTION OF HIS WAGES.
AS IT TURNED OUT, THIS EMPLOYER FORCED
ALL OF HIS MEXICAN EMPLOYEES TO PAY HIM
KICK BACKS, OR THEY WOULD BE FIRED AND
SENT HOME.
SO WE AT THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
STEPPED IN, WE RECOVERED EVERY PENNY TO
THOSE LOST WAGES AND WE PUT A STOP TO
THE ILLEGAL BEHAVIOR.
THE MAN WAS TOTALLY AMAZED.
HE TOLD OUR INVESTIGATOR: "I NEVER
THOUGHT THAT JUSTICE WOULD BE SERVED
FOR US FOREIGN WORKERS."
I'M SO PROUD WE COULD HELP
JUSTICE PREVAIL.
AND I KNOW TODAY'S SIGNING WILL LEAD TO
MORE SUCCESS STORIES LIKE THIS ONE.
SO WITH THAT, LET'S GET DOWN TO BUSINESS.
FIRST, WE WILL SIGN JOINT DECLARATIONS
WITH THE GOVERNMENTS OF ALL OUR COUNTRIES.
THEN, WE WILL SIGN LETTERS OF
ARRANGEMENT BETWEEN OSHA, THE WAGE
AND HOUR DIVISION AND THE FOUR EMBASSIES.
THESE LETTERS PROVIDE THE STRUCTURE FOR
THE DAY TO DAY OPERATIONS OF THE PARTNERSHIP.
AMBASSADORS, I LOOK FORWARD TO
WORKING TOGETHER IN THE MONTHS AND
YEARS AHEAD.
I WANT YOU TO KNOW YOU HAVE A FRIEND AT
THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR.
I WANT TO THANK YOU SO MUCH AND LET'S
BEGIN THE SIGNING SER CEREMONY.
SIGNING CEREMONY.
[ APPLAUSE ]
THANK YOU, SECRETARY SOLIS.
AT THIS TIME I WOULD LIKE TO INVITE TO THE
SIGNING TABLE, AMBASSADOR JORGE RAMON
HERNÁNDEZ ALCERRO OF HONDURAS.
[ APPLAUSE ]
PLEASE WELCOME TO THE SIGNING TABLE
AMBASSADOR JOSE L. CUISIA, JR. OF THE
PHILIPPINES.
[ APPLAUSE ]
NOW,PLEASE WELCOME TO THE SIGNING TABLE
AMBASSADOR HAROLD W. FORSYTH OF PERU.
[ APPLAUSE ]
OKAY, VERY GOOD.
[ APPLAUSE ]
NOW, PLEASE WELCOME TO THE SIGNING TABLE
AMBASSADOR NATHALIE CELY OF ECUADOR.
[ APPLAUSE ]
THANK YOU ONCE AGAIN TO OUR
AMBASSADORS AND CONGRATULATIONS TO
OUR NEW PARTNERS.
ANOTHER ROUND OF APPLAUSE.
[ APPLAUSE ]
AT THIS TIME, WHILE WE MAKE A SMALL
ADJUSTMENT TO OUR STAGE,
I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE A BRIEF MOMENT TO
OFFER A SPECIAL THANK TO YOU REBECCA
ROWLES AND MY STAFF WHO WORKED
TIRELESSLY TO MAKE TODAY HAPPEN.
MANY OF YOU KNOW HER AND THIS WOULD
NOT BE POSSIBLE WITHOUT HER.
[ APPLAUSE ]
NOW, SECRETARY SOLIS WILL JOIN THE
AMBASSADORS FOR A CONVERSATION TO
BRING LIFE TO THE VERY REAL AND HISTORIC
AGREEMENTS THAT HAVE JUST BEEN SIGNED.
AS SECRETARY SOLIS NOTED EARLIER, THE
BEAUTY OF THIS PROGRAM, AND OF OUR
PARTNERSHIP, IS ITS SIMPLICITY.
EVERY EMPLOYER HAS A RESPONSIBILITY TO
ENSURE SAFETY AND FAIRNESS FOR EVERY WORKER.
AND EVERY WORKER HAS RIGHTS.
WITH THE STROKE OF THEIR PENS, WE ARE
MAKING IT EASIER FOR WORKERS TO COME
FORWARD FOR HELP AT THEIR OWN
COUNTRY'S CONSULATES.
OUR DEPARTMENT OF LABOR WORK SITE
SAFETY TEAMS,
AND OUR WAGE AND HOUR INVESTIGATORS,
WILL WORK HAND IN HAND WITH THESE
CONSULATES TO CORRECT INJUSTICES.
TO SHED MORE LIGHT ON THE SIGNIFICANCE
OF TODAY, LET ME TURN THE PROGRAM BACK
TO SECRETARY SOLIS AND THE AMBASSADORS
WITH US TODAY.
THANK YOU, CAROL.
AND I WANT TO BRIEFLY ASK THE
AMBASSADORS IF THEY CAN COMMENT ON
WHAT THIS AGREEMENT WILL MEAN FOR
THEIR COUNTRY AND THEIR WORKERS.
SO WHY DON'T WE START RIGHT HERE AND
WE'LL GO DOWN THE LINE.
WELL I THINK IT'S AN IMPORTANT
AGREEMENT, THANK YOU.
THANK YOU TO SECRETARY SOLIS AND ALL
YOUR TAME AND WAGE AND HOURS AND THE
PROTECTION, THEY HAVE BEEN WORKING SO
HARD WITH OUR TEAM AND THE EMBASSY.
I THINK THIS IS A GREAT POLITICAL SIGN THAT
IT'S IMPORTANT FOR UNITED STATES AND THE
GOVERNOR OF ECUADOR TO PROTECT THE
WORKERS RIGHT HERE.
I SEE THAT HERE.
HAVE YOU BEEN DOING A LOT OF WORK WITH
THE CONSULATES ALREADY AND IT'S
IMPORTANT, NOT ONLY IN POLITICAL CIRCLES
BUT IN PRACTICE.
FOR THE ADMINISTER OF LABOR AND
ECUADOR HAS 18 CONSULATES ALL OVER THE
UNITED STATES AND I THINK WE WILL PROVIDE
INFORMATION, TRAINING SO OUR WORKERS
CAN KNOW THE RIGHTS HERE AND HOW THEY
CAN BE PROTECTED.
HOW MANY IN YOUR ESTIMATION, FOLKS ARE
HERE IN THIS COUNTRY THAT YOU KNOW OF?
WELL, IT'S AROUND??THE SUMMATIONS ARE
VARIOUS BUT ACCORDING TO THE CENSUS,
THEY'RE AROUND 800,000 EQUADORRIANS BUT
FOR SOME ESTIMATIONS ONE SAY IT MIGHT BE
1.5 OR TWO MILLION ECUADORRIANS LIVING
IN THE UNITED STATES.
SO THIS COULD HAVE A DRAMATIC IMPACT ON
THOSE LIVES?
I'M VERY, VERY,
CONDISCIPLINARY??CONFIDENT AND NOW I
WOULD LIKE TO TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO
ANNOUNCE THAT THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT
S&P WORKING HARD WITH YOUR FORCE TO
COMPLEMENT THIS GREAT PROTECTION
TRAINING ACTIONS WITHOUT WITH
VOCATIONAL TRAINING FOR THE WORKERS
HERE AND WE'RE TRYING TO ENHANCE
OPPORTUNITY, FOR A ROUGH TIME AND NEED
TO BE MORE SKILLS FOR THE PART OF THESE
GREAT SOCIETY.
SO, WE??WE WERE ADMINISTERING
[INDISCERNIBLE] AND WE WOULD LOVE TO
HAVE YOU THERE IN OUR LONG?TERM AND
NEW YORK THERE WILL BE SOME FOR UP TO
300 HOURS AND IT WILL COMPLEMENT NICELY
FOR WHAT YOU ARE DOING HERE AND THE RIGHTS.
MADAM SECRETARY, I AM HAPPY AND
HONORED TO BE HERE WITH YOU TO HAVE THIS
CHANCE TO SIGN THIS AGREEMENT, WITH THE
DEPARTMENT OF LABOR.
PERU HAS A LONG STANDING TRADITION OF
PROTECTING MIGRANTS NOT ONLY IN
PROTECTING PERU BUT MIGRANTS ALL OVER
THE WORLD.
SO IN THIS PARTICULAR CASE, IT'S LIVING AND
WORKING THE UNITED STATES, THIS
DOCUMENT YOU HAVE ALREADY SIGNED ARE
VERY IMPORTANT STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WILL HAVE TO BE
DONE IN THE FUTURE, TOO, THAT IS RIGHT,
BUT WE CAN SEE AN IMPORTANT
COMMITMENT BY THE GOVERNMENT, BAR
BARRACK ON BAMMA AND ALSO
[INDISCERNIBLE] OF OF THE PRESIDENT IN PERU.
THIS IS A VERY BIG COUNTRY.
THERE IS A BIG LEGISLATION, 50 STATES AND
PERUVIANS ARE ALL OVER THE COUNTRY SEE
WE [INDISCERNIBLE] IN ORDER TO SPREAD THE
LEGAL SYSTEM AND LITERALLY HOPE THAT
THERE WERE 13 COUNCILS WITH THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT AND WITH OUR GOVERNMENT,
AND THE EMBASSY IN WASHINGTON IN ORDER
TO ESTABLISH THESE PROCEDURES TO DO
THINGS IN THE FUTURE.
ONE OF THE THINGS WE COULD TRY, AS I HAVE
MENTIONED, I HAD A CHANCE TO MENTION IN
YOUR OFFICE A FEW MOMENTS AGO IS TO
BRING THESE HERE TO WASHINGTON,
INCLUDING EQUADORRIANS AND HONEDDURE
AS AND??HONED??HONDURAS AND TO
PROMOTE FACILITATION SO THAT THEY HAVE
BETTER TOOLS TO HELP THOSE COUNTRY MEN
LIVING IN THIS COUNTRY.
THANK YOU.
AMBASSADOR?
FIRST, LET ME COMMEND YOU MADAM
SECRETARY AND THE COLLEAGUES IN THE
DEPARTMENT OF LABOR FOR UNDERTAKING
THIS LAWEDDIBLE INITIATIVE, I
AM??LAWEDDIBLE INITIATIVE AND I AM
PLEASED TO BE PART OF THIS SIGNING
CEREMONY AND I WANT TO TELL YOU THAT
AGREEMENT WITH??HAS VERY FAVORABLE
IMPACT ON THESE WORKERS HERE IN THE
UNITED STATES, AS YOU KNOW WE
HAVE??BASED ON THE CENSUS ABOUT 3.4
MILLION FILL PIN O AMERICANS IN THIS
COUNTRY AND INCLUDING??FILIPINO CITIZEN
AND PERSONALLY, THIS AGREEMENT THIS
AGREEMENT WILL PROVIDE PROTECT AND
RECEIVING FAIR AND JUSTICE COMPENSATION
A LARGE NUMBER OF OUR WORKERS ARE HERE
AND EDUCATION AND AND A NUMBER OF
OUR WORKER TEACHERS AND NURSES HAVE
BEEN RESPONSIBLE AS WELL AS EMPLOYERS
AND WHY WE HAVE OF COURSE BEEN SENDING
A SYSTEM TO THEM, AND I THINK THE FACT
THAT THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR HAS COME
UP WITH AGREEMENT WILL STRENGTHEN THE
SUPPORT THAT CAN BE PROVIDED THESE
WORKERS AND WE OF COURSE WELCOME THIS
INITIATIVE THAT WE HAVE UNDERTAKEN IN
THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR.
AND WE WANT TO THANK YOU FOR ASSURING
OUR WORKERS THAT THEY HAVE A CHAMPION
IN THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR TO PROTECT
THEIR RIGHTS.
THANK YOU AMBASSADOR.
MADAM SECRETARY, ALLOW ME FIRST TO
RECOGNIZE THE IMPORTANCE OF THIS
INITIATIVE FOR AROUND A MILLION HON
DURE ANS LIVING IN THE UNITED STATES I
KNOW THAT MANY OF MY FELLOW COUNTRY
MEN HAVE FELT THAT THERE'S LACK OF JOBS
OR INFORMATION FOR UNCERTAINTIES.
THE AGREEMENT WE HAD SIGNED TODAY
WOULD ALLOW THEM TO BE RIGHTLY
INFORMED ABOUT THEIR LABOR RIGHTS AND
ALSO TO PRESENT ANY TYPE OF REPORT FOR
THE CONSULATE OF OUR COUNTRY
THROUGHOUT THE UNITED STATES.
IF THERE ARE RELATIONS TO THEIR RIGHTS.
SO I THINK THAT IT IS OF THE UTMOST
IMPORTANCE FOR THE HON DURE ANS
LIVING??HON??HONDURANS LIVE NOTHING
THE UNITED STATES AND LETTERS AND THANK
YOU SO MUCH FOR TAKING THESE AND
MAKING IT POSSIBLE FOR THE PEOPLE OF
HONDURAS LIVING IN THE U.S.
JUST A BIT OF INFORMATION, WE HAVE
SEVERAL YEARS WORKING WITH THE
AMBASSADOR OF MEXICO AND HAVE WORKED
WITH HIM ON THIS EFFORT FOR MANY YEARS
SO IT WAS A GOOD MODEL TO USE, TO SHARE
WITH THE OTHER COUNTRIES AND I'M VERY
PLEASED AT THE PARTICIPATION RATES THAT
WE'VE SEEN WITH THE LATIN AMERICAN
COUNTRIES AND I HOPE THAT SOON OUR
FRIENDS IN ASIA WILL ALSO JOIN US AND
THOSE OTHERS THAT HAVE NOT YET SIGNED
ON WITH THE AGREEMENTS THAT HOPEFULLY
THROUGH YOUR EFFORTS THAT WORD WILL
GET OUT AND WILL HELP TO PROVIDE
INCENTIVES FOR MANY OF THESE OTHER
COUNTRIES WE HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO REACH
YET AND COME IN AND WORK WITH OUR
STAFF AND HOPEFULLY SIGN THESE FOLLOW
UP AGREEMENTS, SO I'M LOOKING FORWARD
TO THAT.
AND JUST BASICALLY, ONE OTHER QUESTION
TO ASK YOU IS, HOW DO YOU FORSEE THIS
AGREEMENT HELPING OUR RELATIONS WITH
OUR COUNTRIES AND MAYBE CAN YOU START?
I THINK THIS IS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO
BROADEN OUR RELATIONSHIP, THE
GOVERNMENT HAS HARD WORK IN THE
AGENDA AND WE HAVE THE WORK FOR THE
LAST FOUR YEARS AND WHAT THE RIDES ARE
AND PROTECTED, ALSO THEY DID ADJUST FAIR
SALARY AND NOW WE HAVE IMPLEMENTED
NOTHING NEW CALLEDAD WHAT AND
WE??[INDISCERNIBLE] AND WE SHARE THE
SAME GOALS AND I'M THANKFUL TO YOU
MADAM SECRETARY, TO BE AN AMBASSADOR,
AND THIS WILL HELP ENHANCE OUR
RELATIONSHIP AND IN A VERY, VERY,
PRACTICAL AND PRAGMATIC WAY.
I AM COMFORTABLE THIS AGREEMENT WILL
TOUCH LIVES AND WILL MAKE A DIFFERENCE
WITH PEOPLE KNOWING THE RIGHTS AND
PEOPLE KNOWING THEY HAVE AN
INSTITUTION HERE AND THEY CAN LOOK
FORWARD TO PROTECT THEM AND I AM TRULY
SEE THE GAINS OF THIS PARTNERSHIP WE'RE
STARTING TODAY. AMBASSADOR?
WELL, PERU AND THE UNITED STATES HAVE A
VERY TRADITION OF STRONG LIPLOMATTIC
RELATIONS FOR WHICH??DIPLOMATIC
RELATIONS SINCE FROM AROUND 1850, NOW I
JUST HOPE, THAT WE ARE ENJOYING THE
HIGHEST POINT IN OUR HISTORY AND OF
COURSE, THERE ARE PENDING ISSUES WHICH
ARE IMPORTANT.
THERE ARE STILL A FEW DIFFERENCES WHICH
ARE IMPORTANT, TOO, AND THE CONDITION,
THE SITUATION OF THIS, PROBABLY MILLION IN
THE UNITED STATES, IT IS AN AFFILIATE,
SOMETHING THAT WORRIES A LOT, AND IT
WORRIES THE PRESIDENT A LOT.
AND THE FACT THAT YOU, MADAM SECRETARY,
ARE VERY WELL OUTSTANDING PERSONALITY
NOT ONLY IN THE UNITED STATES AND THE
WORLD AND HAVE DECIDED TO GIVE US A
HAND IN THIS AND IT'S ACCEPTING A
POWERFUL MESSAGE.
??SENDING A POWERFUL MESSAGE.
SO WE HOPE IN THE NEAR FUTURE A LOT OF OF
PENDING ISSUES WITH THE COMMUNITY IN
THE UNITED STATES WILL FIND A GOOD
AVENUE OF SOLUTIONS.
SO WE HAVE A LOT OF REASONS TO BE
THANKFUL AND TO HAVE POSITIVE
OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE FUTURE.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. AMBASSADOR?
WELL, SINCE I'VE BEEN IN THE UNITED STATES,
I'VE HAD A LONG AND ENDURING
RELATIONSHIP OVER THE DECADES.
WE'VE HAD MANY FILIPINO WORKERS
COMING TO THE UNITED STATES SPECIFICALLY
IN THE HEALTHCARE INDUSTRY AND IN THE
EDUCATION SECTOR AND OUR WORKER WHEN
IS THEY COME HERE, THEY ANTICIPATE THAT
THEY WILL ADJUST FAIR AND TREATMENT
EMPLOYERS AND UNFORTUNATELY, WE FIND
OUT THERE ARE OF COURSE UNSCRUPULOUS
EMPLOYERS WHO EXPLOIT THEM AND WE ARE
OF COURSE VERY AT PEACE WITH THIS
AGREEMENT THEY CAN COUNT ON THE
DEPARTMENT OF LABOR TO PROVIDE THEM
SENSE AND WE WANT TO AGAIN APPRECIATE
OUR MADAM SECRETARY FOR GIVE TAG
ASSURANCE TO OUR WORKERS AND THAT WE
CONTINUE TO SEE EVEN MORE WORKERS
COMING TO THE UNITED STATES
FOR A BETTER FUTURE.
WELL, I HAVE NO DOUBT, THAT THE JOINT
DECLARATION AND LETTERS OF
ARRANGEMENT WILL CONTRIBUTE TO
PROMOTE RELATIONS BETWEEN THE UNITED
STATES AND HONDURAS.
AND I WOULD LIKE TO SAY NOT ONLY BETWEEN
THE UNITED STATES AND HONDURAS BUT I
WOULD LIKE TO TAKE ON THE INITIATIVE OF
THE PERUVIAN AMBASSADOR, WE WOULD
DEFINITELY LIKE TO HAVE OUR CONS IN THE
UNITED STATES??CONS ULTIMATELYS IN THE
UNITED STATES AND COME FROM OTHER
COUNTRIES THAT ARE PARTICIPATING IN THIS
PROGRAM AND HAVE A PROPER TRAINING
AND ALSO AN EXCHANGE OF VIEWS WITH
THOSE COUNTRIES THAT HAVE ALREADY THIS
PROGRAM IN PLACE, SO I THINK YOU ARE
PROMOTING A BETTER RELATIONSHIP
BETWEEN THE U.S. AND OUR COUNTRIES, BUT
ALSO AMONGST OUR COUNTRIES, TOO,
MADAM SECRETARY.
SO I THANK YOU FOR THAT.
AND I AM ALSO POSITIVE THAT THE
AGREEMENTS THAT WE HAVE SIGNED THIS
MORNING WILL ALSO HELP US AVOID
CONFLICTIVITY IN THE WORKING PLACE.
IT WILL PREVENT MANY LABOR CONFLICTS
THROUGHOUT THE UNITED STATES AND THAT
IS ALSO A VERY POSITIVE??WILL BE A POSITIVE
RESULT OF OUR AGREEMENTS.
GREAT, I JUST WANT TO REEMPHASIZE TO THE
AUDIENCE, AND WE HAVE PEOPLE VIEWING US
RIGHT NOW THAT ARE WEBCAST TO OUR
REGIONAL OFFICES AND WE ALSO HAVE A
PARTNERSHIP WITH SOME OF THE CONSULATE
OFFICES SO STAFF FROM AROUND THE
COUNTRY FROM YOUR OFFICE ARE WATCHING
US AND WE'VE ALSO OPENED UP THROUGH
SOCIAL MEDIA, THE TWEETER WHO IS ARE
RESPONDING TO US, I HAVE A VIEWER IN THE
AUDIENCE AND THE QUESTION FOR US HERE
IS: CITIZEN FROM ALL OF OUR COUNTRIES ARE
WATCHING TODAY, WHAT MESSAGE DO YOU
HAVE FROM YOUR COUNTRY ABOUT THEIR
RIGHTS WHEN WORKING ABROAD?
A MESSAGE OF HOPE, WE HAVE FORMED A
GREAT PARTNERSHIP AND TIME K'S BE TOUGH,
BUT WHEN YOU HAVE THE LAW AND HAVE
SOMEBODY TO PROTECT YOU AND ALSO
WORKING AND TRAINING CAPACITY, TRYING
TO ENHANCE ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES,
THEY MIGHT GET BETTER.
SO I WOULD SAY, HOPE, A LOT OF HOPE.
THANK YOU.
I HAVE TO SHARE WHAT NATHALIE, THERE'S
ALSO A MESSAGE OF OF HOPE FOR THE
FUTURE AND ESPECIALLY WE CAN SEE THAT
THE DOCUMENTS WE HAVE SIGNED TODAY
AND REFLECT THE GOOD RELATIONSHIP TO
OUR COUNTRIES AND THE UNITED STATES,
PERHAPS MORE THAN GOOD RELATIONSHIPS,
BUT AT THE SAME TIME IT REFLECTS
SOMETHING IMPORTANT BECAUSE IT'S LATIN
AMERICAN, AND WHEN I SPEAK OF LATIN
AMERICAN WE MIGHT CONSIDER THE UNITED
STATES, TOO, BECAUSE IF WE HAVE OVER 50
MILLION OR EVEN MORE PEOPLE LIVING IN
THE UNITED STATES WITH THE VERY STRONG
LATIN AMERICAN CULTURE, YOU MADAM
SECRETARY ARE A CLEAR EXAMPLE OF THAT, TOO.
IT MEANS THAT THE UNITED STATES TO SOME
EXTENT AND LATIN AMERICAN COUNTRY ALSO
SO WE HAVE WE HAVE A VISION FOR THE
FUTURE AND THESE DOCUMENTS WE HAVE
SIGNED ARE A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.
WELL I KNOW UPON THIS COUNTRY IS VERY
DIVERSE AND WE SEE CONTINUING TRENDS
WITH THE RESPECT TO CENSUS FIGURES AND
HOW FAST MANY OF OUR COUNTRIES ARE
MAKING THEIR PREZ PRESENCE, WITH THE
NATIVE AND FAMILIES THAT ARE COMING
HERE AND I'M PROUD OF MY HERITAGE AND
AMERICAN HERITAGE AND BEING ABLE TO
SERVE IN THIS CAPACITY AND BEING ABLE TO
OPEN DOORS.
[SPEAKING SPANISH ]
SO IT'S ALWAYS A WARM WELCOME TO
INDIVIDUALS COMING TO OUR COUNTRY AND
WANT TO WORK HARD AND DO THE RIGHT THING.
THAT IN ESSENCE IS THE AMERICAN DREAM
FOR MANY OF US AND FOR MANY WHO HAVE
MADE THEIR HOME HERE WAVES AND WATCHS
OF IMMIGRANTS SRO COME FOR CENTURYS
AND THEY FIND SAFE HAVENS HERE IN THE
UNITED STATES AND WE'RE ALL PROUD OF
OUR HISTORY.
AMBASSADOR?
I, GHEE WITH NATHALIE, I, GHEE THAT THE U.S.
THAT I GIVE THE MESSAGE OF HOPE AND
ASSURANCE FOR WORKERS WHO COME TO
THE UNITED STATES, OR CURRENTLY WORKING
IN THE UNITED STATES CAN BE ASSURED THAT
THEIR LABOR RIGHTS ARE PROTECTED BY THE
DEPARTMENT OF LABOR, AND OF COURSE U.S.
STILL BEING THE LAND OF HOPE AND A BETTER
FUTURE, FOR WORKERS, NOT JUST FROM
PHILIPPINES BUT FROM MANY OTHER
COUNTRIES, AND WE TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY
TO THANK YOU AGAIN AND TO COMMEND
YOU FOR THIS VERY LAWEDDIBLE
INIT??LAUDABLE INITIATIVE.
AMBASSADOR?
MY MESSAGE TO OUR WORKERS
THROUGHOUT THE UNITED STATES WOULD BE
FIRST THAT THEY SHOULD ABIDE BY THE LAWS
OF THE HOST COUNTRY AND THE FIRST PLACE,
SECOND THAT THEY HAVE TO TAKE
ADVANTAGE OF THE NEW OPPORTUNITIES
THAT ARE OPEN IN THIS COUNTRY FOR HARD
WORKING, WORKING AND HONEST PEOPLE
AND THIRDLY, WE HAVE THAT THIRDLY WE
HAVE GIVEN A DEMONSTRATION TODAY FOR
HUMAN DIGNITY.
BOTH COUNTRIES ARE SPEAKING LOUD TO THE
50 STATES IN THE UNITED STATES THAT WE
HAVE TO UPHOLD THE VALUES OF HUMAN
DIGNITY AND THE MIGRANT WORKERS,
FOREIGN WORKERS HAVE RIGHTS AND THE
THESE RIGHTS HAVE TO BE RESPECTED.
SO, I WANT TO THANK YOU AGAIN FOR THE
OPPORTUNITY HAVE SIGNED THIS AGREEMENT
THIS MORNING AND FOR SPEAKING OUT FOR
HUMAN DIGNITY FOR THE FOREIGN WORKERS
IN UNITED STATES.
THANK YOU.
THANK YOU, AGAIN AND ON THAT NOTE, WE
WILL CONCLUDE AND I WANT TO JUST REMIND
FOLKS THAT CAN YOU GO ON OUR WEB PAGE,
DOL.GOV, GET INFORMATION ABOUT WHAT
OUR EFFORTS ARE, NOT JUST WITH RESPECT TO
THE AGREEMENTS WE'RE SIGNING TODAY
WHICH IS SO, SO, IMPORTANT BUT ALSO
ABOUT OTHER SERVICES WE PROVIDE BECAUSE
YOU HAVE MANY FAMILIES HERE WHO HAVE
CHILDREN AND FAMILY MEMBER WHO IS ARE
LEGAL RESIDENTS AND CITIZEN AND THEY
SHOULD TAKE PART IN THE OTHER SERVICES
THAT WE HAVE TO OFFER, WHETHER IT'S JOB
TRAINING, WHETHER IT'S HELPING A DISABLED
INDIVIDUAL, WHETHER IT'S SOMEONE WHO'S
A RETURNING VETERAN OR SOMEONE WHO
JUST NEEDS HELP IN FINDING EMPLOYMENT,
WE HAVE 3000 OFFICES THAT ARE CALLED ONE
STOP CENTERS AND THEY HELP PEOPLE, WE
WANT PEOPLE TO UNDERSTAND THAT IF WE
CAN PROVIDE A SERVICE, WE'D LIKE THEM TO
TAKE ADVANTAGE OF IT.
SO THANK YOU AGAIN.
WE WANT TO JUST TELL YOU HOW PLEASED WE
ARE AND HOPE THAT YOU'LL HELP AMPLIFY THE
MESSAGE AND GET IT OUT TO OTHER OFFICES
THAT MAY NOT HAVE RECEIVED THIS
INFORMATION AND WE'LL WORK WITH US IN
COOPERATION, SO AGAIN THANK YOU SO
MUCH, AND ANOTHER ROUND OF APPLAUSE
FOR OUR PANEL AND OUR GUESTS, THANK YOU!
[ APPLAUSE ]
GRACIAS!
THANK YOU VERY MUCH!
VERY GOOD!
VERY PLEASED TO WORK WITH YOU!