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Temmy Shmull, the Republic of Palau’s minister of state, is in favor of sending an additional 150 of his countrymen to work at Agriprocessors in Postville, but says the final decision has yet to be made.
Schmull, who represented the country’s outgoing president at the United Nations in New York, took an alternative path back to his home in the tropics by way of Postville. While there he met with the roughly 150 Palauans who have been recruited to work at the kosher meatpacking plant. He told the Saipan Tribune that the workers are in good condition and well protected by U.S. labor laws.
“I’m happy for them because they have been given the opportunity to have a job,” Shmull said of the 150 workers.
He said that aside from the bigger salary, the workers are also guaranteed medical insurance, paid vacation and other social security benefits under federal regulations and labor systems.
He said this is a big impact to Palau’s economy.
The Tribune reports that Palauan workers at Agriprocessors are guaranteed $9 per hour. In their home country, workers make an average of $2.50 per hour. Schmull expressed concerns over allegations being made toward the plant, but said he assured the workers in Postville at the government of Palau is closely monitoring the situation.
He told the Tribune that the Palauans in Postville are in “very good conditions.”
Palau President Tommy Remengesau had earlier urged the Palauans being recruited by Agriprocessors not to work at the plant, according to international reports.
While in Postville the Palauan officials — Schmull, Palau Ambassador to the U.S. Hershey Kyota and Counselor for the Palau U.N. Mission Christopher Kitalong — toured the processing plant, met with Moshe Rubashkin (son of company founder Aaron Rubashkin) and Postville Mayor Bob Penrod.The group also met with Webster Franz, the coordinator for the Palau workers at the plant.
“As minister of State, it is my duty and responsibility to ensure that every Palauan citizen that has been recruited to work in your processing plant is treated fairly under U.S. labor laws,” Scmull told Rubashkin.
Rubashkin responded that “he would do unto others as he would have them do unto him.”
In closing Schmull told the Palauans that they should contact the Palau Embassy with any problems. “You are representatives of our country here in the United States,” he said. “Like all other Palauans who have come before you, I am confident that you will make Palau proud through your hard work.”
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