Senate Bill No. 8-136 proposes to amend RPPL No. 7-43 to create the Ministry of Labor and Human Resources.
The Olbiil Era Kelulau (OEK) finds that the situation with nonresident workers in Palau is “unstable due to the lack of effective labor law enforcement and proper and effective monitoring mechanism for nonresident workers.” And one way to remedy it, according to the OEK findings, is to elevate the Bureau of Labor and Human Resources to the Ministry Level to shorten the chain of command and allow it to perform its duties more effectively.
The number of nonresidents in Palau is continuously increasing, so measures must be taken to make sure that labor laws are followed and all those who enter the country for employment are well-documented and monitored.
The OEK found that the number of nonresident workers including their dependents exceeds 5,000. “This may prove beyond the capabilities and resources of the Bureau of Labor and Human Resources.”
The Ministry of Labor and Human Resources will be responsible for labor and effective utilization of human resources. It shall have all the powers, duties and responsibilities of the former Bureau of Labor and Human Resources. It may amend the current labor rules and regulations, in accordance with the law, to properly carry out its duties and responsibilities.
All the staff, assets and funds appropriated to the Bureau of Labor and Human Resources shall be transferred to the Ministry of Labor and Human Resources. And all references in the law to the “Division of Labor” and the “Bureau of Labor and Human Resources” are amended to reference the Ministry of Labor and Human Resources.”
This measure will be effective upon approval by the President or upon its becoming law without such approval.
//
