WASHINGTON, D.C.-- People who feel they have suffered employment discrimination because of their legal immigration status, language, accent or national origin can learn about their rights at a workshop next Saturday sponsored by a special antidiscrimination office at the Justice Department.

The workshop, which will educate community groups and workers, is sponsored by the Justice Department's Office of Special Counsel for Immigration Related Unfair Employment Practices (OSC) along with the Catholic Legal Immigration Network, Inc., as well as other federal agencies and partners in metropolitan Washington, D.C. It will take place on Saturday, January 30, 1999 from 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM at the Sacred Heart Shrine Church, Gava Center, 16^th Street and Park Road, NW, Washington, D.C.

Since 1986, when it became illegal to knowingly hire undocumented workers, employers

have been required to check the employment eligibility of all new hires--citizens and non-citizens alike. However, in an effort to comply with this requirement, some employers go beyond what is required and single out individuals because of their accent, appearance, name or citizenship status.

"Singling out individuals because of their accent, appearance, name or citizenship status violates the law," said Special Counsel John Trasviña. "Not only do we obtain relief for discrimination victims, we try to educate workers and employers about their rights and responsibilities under the law."

People with potential discrimination claims will hear from attorneys from OSC, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and the Department of Labor about the rights and remedies available to them under the law.

For more information about the workshop, please call Anne Marie Gibbons at the Catholic Legal Immigration Network, Inc.(CLINIC), at (202) 635-5828 or Jill Moschak with the OSC at (202) 514-2637.

For more information about protections against discrimination under the immigration laws, call toll-free 1-800-255-7688, or 202-616-5594 or write to:

Office of Special Counsel for Immigration Related Unfair Employment Practices

Civil Rights Division, Department of Justice

P.O. Box 27728

Washington, D.C. 20038-7728

Email:osc.crt@justice.usdoj.gov

www.usdoj.gov/crt/osc

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