US

DOJ Now Accepting Immigration-Related Employment Discrimination Complaints In 11 Languages

REUTERS/Joshua Roberts

Font Size:

Workers who believe they have been discriminated against on the basis of citizenship or national origin can now file a complaint online with the Justice Department in 11 different languages.

In an email to stakeholders Tuesday, the Obama administration announced that it has expanded the number of languages available to permanent residents, temporary residents, refugees, asylees, citizens, and nationals of the United States to complete and submit charge forms to the Office of Special Counsel for Immigration-Related Unfair Employment Practices (OSC) in the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division.

Now, in addition to English and Spanish, the OSC is accepting discrimination charge forms in Arabic, Chinese, French, Haitian Creole, Korean, Portuguese, Russian, Tagalog, and Vietnamese.

“The Office of Special Counsel for Immigration-Related Unfair Employment Practices (OSC) in the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division is pleased to announce that members of the public can now complete and submit charge forms online through OSC’s website in Arabic, Chinese, French, Haitian Creole, Korean, Portuguese, Russian, Tagalog, and Vietnamese in addition to English and Spanish,” the Justice Department announced in its email.

Individuals who speak languages other than the 11 OSC now accepts may still submit complains in their native tongues by mail, fax, or email and OSC will translate it.

“OSC investigations typically take no longer than 7 months from receipt of a charge of discrimination,” OSC explains on its charge page. “If a violation has been found, victims may obtain various types of relief, including job relief and back pay.”

The Obama Administration has been cracking down on discrimination on the basis of citizenship status and national origin, particularly those employers who demand more documentation than is required to complete the Form I-9 to establish employment eligibility.

Caroline May