HIGH COURT RULES FOR ARAMCO

The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that federal job discrimination laws do not apply to Americans working abroad for U.S. companies. In a 6-3 opinion, the court ruled Congress did not declare the 1964 Civil Rights Act applies to U.S. citizens working overseas, and therefore it does not. The law bars discrimination on the basis of race, sex, religion, or national origin.

April 15, 1991

The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that federal job discrimination laws do not apply to Americans working abroad for U.S. companies.

In a 6-3 opinion, the court ruled Congress did not declare the 1964 Civil Rights Act applies to U.S. citizens working overseas, and therefore it does not. The law bars discrimination on the basis of race, sex, religion, or national origin.

The case, Bourselan vs. Arabian American Oil Co., involved a naturalized U.S. citizen who claimed Aramco fired him from an engineering job in Saudi Arabia in 1984 because he was born in Lebanon and was a Muslim. Aramco said the discharge was part of a reduction in force.

The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and U.S. Justice Department joined in the case against Aramco.

Sen. Edward Kennedy (D-Mass.) said he will introduce an amendment to a civil rights bill pending in Congress to prevent U.S. companies from discriminating against American citizens working overseas.