|
The Department of Labor (DOL), represented by the Bureau of International Labor Affairs’ Office of International Relations (OIR), has a long-term institutional relationship with the Department of State (DOS) to carry out the U.S. Government's (USG) labor diplomacy function. Over the years, DOL has worked closely with DOS to ensure the inclusion of labor and employment issues in U.S. foreign relations.
State Department Labor-Designated Positions. Since the establishment of the first Labor Attaché positions by DOS in 1943, the Labor Attaches (more recently re-designated "Labor Officers") have been of great importance to DOL, which has long had a major responsibility for international labor issues of interest to the USG. Historically, DOL has provided input to the State Department on the location and staffing of Labor Officer positions.
Labor Officer Training. OIR assists with the preparation and training of Foreign Service Officers (FSOs) for duty as Labor Officers to ensure that they have the requisite knowledge and skills to effectively research and report on labor conditions and developments. For many years, the State Department's Foreign Service Institute has held an annual training program for FSOs who have been assigned for the first time to Labor Officer positions either at posts abroad or at State Department headquarters in Washington. OIR works with the course coordinator in developing the overall program and, in that context, has the lead in putting together an orientation for the officers held at DOL that introduces participants to its international bureau and domestic agencies.
Labor Officer Support. As part of the ongoing effort to promote the labor diplomacy function, OIR supports Labor Officers and Labor Reporting Officers once they are at post, keeping them updated on latest labor-, employment-, and economic-related developments in the United States.
Joint Award for Excellence in Labor Diplomacy. The Joint Award for Excellence in Labor Diplomacy, first awarded in 1999, is made for advancing U.S. international labor policy objectives and for outstanding contributions in reporting, analysis, advocacy and policy recommendations on labor developments and issues. A panel composed equally of DOL and DOS representatives select the winner and runner-up, and their choices are confirmed by the panel co-chairs, currently the Deputy Under Secretary of Labor for International Affairs and the Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy, Human Rights and Labor. The award certificate, signed by the Secretaries of Labor and State, is officially presented to the winner at State's annual awards ceremony.
| |
|
