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Micronesia, Federated States of - Compensation & Benefit Legislation

CAPITAL

Palikir

 

CLIMATE

Tropical climate; heavy year-round rainfall, especially in the eastern islands that are located on southern edge of the typhoon belt with occasionally severe damage.

 

LANGUAGES

English (official and common language), Trukese, Pohnpeian, Yapese, and Kosrean.

 

LEGAL SYSTEM

Micronesia’s legal system is based on adapted Trust Territory laws, acts of the legislature, municipal, common, and customary laws.

 

CURRENCY

U.S. Dollar (USD)

 

MICRONESIA, FEDERATED STATES OF - COST-OF-LIVING

ERI's Relocation Assessor is a recommended source for cost-of-living data.

 

MICRONESIA, FEDERATED STATES OF - EMBASSY/CONSULATES

U.S. Embassy at Kolonia

P.O. Box 1286

Pohnpei, Federated States of Micronesia 96941

Telephone: [691] 320-2187

Fax: [691] 320-2186

Email: USEmbassy@mail.fm

http://www.fm/USEmbassy/

 

Embassy of the Federated States of Micronesia at Washington D.C.

1725 N Street N.W.

Washington D.C. 20036

Telephone: (202) 223-4383

Fax: (202) 223-4391

Email: fsm@fsmembassy.org

http://www.fsmembassy.org/

 

MICRONESIA, FEDERATED STATES OF - HOLIDAYS

 

MICRONESIA, FEDERATED STATES OF - MINIMUM AGE

There is no law establishing a minimum age for employment of children. While in practice there is no employment of children for wages, they often assist their families in subsistence farming activities.

 

(Section 6.d. Acceptable Conditions of Work, Micronesia – Report of Human Rights Practices, 2001, U.S. Department of State.)

 

MICRONESIA, FEDERATED STATES OF - MINIMUM REMUNERATION

The four state governments have established minimum wage rates for government workers. Pohnpei has a minimum hourly wage rate of $2.00 for government and $1.35 for private workers. The other three states have established minimum hourly rates only for government workers: $1.25 for Chuuk; $1.49 for Kosrae; and $0.80 for Yap. The minimum hourly wage for employment with the national Government is $1.68.

 

(Section 6.e. Acceptable Conditions of Work, Micronesia – Report of Human Rights Practices, 2001, U.S. Department of State.)

 

MICRONESIA, FEDERATED STATES OF - REMUNERATION

ERI's Geographic and Salary Assessors are recommended sources for international remuneration covering 189 countries.

 

MICRONESIA, FEDERATED STATES OF - REPORT OF HUMAN RIGHTS PRACTICES (2001, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE)

Section 6 Worker Rights

 

a. The Right of Association

 

Under the law, citizens have the right to form or join associations, and national government employees by law may form associations to "present their views" to the Government without coercion, discrimination, or reprisals; however, they have not formed any such associations, and there is no specific right to strike. For a variety of reasons, including the fact that most private sector employment is in small-scale, family-owned business and that Micronesians are not accustomed to collective action, there are neither associations nor trade unions. There have been no reports of strikes, labor disputes, or collective bargaining agreements in the country's history, and there were no such incidents during the year. The country is not a member of the International Labor Organization.

 

b. The Right to Organize and Bargain Collectively

 

No law deals specifically with trade unions or with the right to collective bargaining. Individual employers, the largest of which are the national and state governments, set wages.

 

There are no export processing zones.

 

c. Prohibition of Forced or Compulsory Labor

 

The Constitution specifically prohibits forced or compulsory labor, and there were no reports that such practices occurred.

 

The Government does not prohibit forced and bonded labor by children; however, there were no reports that such practices occurred.

 

d. Status of Child Labor Practices and Minimum Age for Employment

 

There is no law establishing a minimum age for employment of children. While in practice there is no employment of children for wages, they often assist their families in subsistence farming activities. The Government has not ratified ILO Convention 182 on the worst forms of child labor.

 

Neither the Constitution nor the law specifically prohibits forced and bonded labor by children, but such practices are not known to occur (see Section 6.c.).

 

e. Acceptable Conditions of Work

 

The four state governments have established minimum wage rates for government workers. Pohnpei has a minimum hourly wage rate of $2.00 for government and $1.35 for private workers. The other three states have established minimum hourly rates only for government workers: $1.25 for Chuuk; $1.49 for Kosrae; and $0.80 for Yap. The minimum hourly wage for employment with the national Government is $1.68. The U.S. dollar is the country's legal currency. These minimum wage structures and the wages customarily paid to skilled workers are sufficient to provide a decent standard of living for a worker and family. The minimum wage is enforced through the tax system, and this mechanism is believed to be effective.

 

There are no laws regulating hours of work (although a 40-hour workweek is standard practice) or prescribing standards of occupational safety and health. A federal regulation requires that employers provide a safe workplace. The Department of Health has no enforcement capability; working conditions vary in practice.

 

There is no law for either the public or private sector that would permit workers to remove themselves from dangerous work situations without jeopardy to their continued employment.

 

Two states permit foreign laborers to work in garment manufacturing enterprises. The foreign laborers are paid at a lower rate than citizens who work at the factories, work longer hours per day, and work a 6-day week in contrast to the 5-day week for citizens. However, working and living conditions are regarded generally as good, and workers are not subjected to abuse or deported without cause; they have the right to a hearing under such circumstances. Foreign workers have the right to form unions; however, they have not done so.

 

f. Trafficking in Persons

 

The law does not specifically address the subject of trafficking in persons; however, there were no reports that persons were trafficked to, from, or within the country.

 

MICRONESIA, FEDERATED STATES OF - SOCIAL SECURITY

Social Security Office of International Programs:

 

http://www.ssa.gov/SSA_Home.html

 

MICRONESIA, FEDERATED STATES OF - STANDARD WORKWEEK

There are no laws regulating hours of work, although a 40-hour workweek is standard practice.

 

(Section 6.e. Acceptable Conditions of Work, Micronesia – Report of Human Rights Practices, 2001, U.S. Department of State.)