EEOC SETTLES CASE INVOLVING DISCHARGE OF SEVEN MIDDLE EASTERN CREW MEMBERS FROM THE CRUISE SHIP PRIDE OF ALOHA

HONOLULU  – The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity  Commission (EEOC) today announced the settlement of a federal lawsuit against NCL  America, Inc. for $485,000 to seven former employees and remedial relief.

In its lawsuit, filed in 2006 under  Title VII of the 1964 Civil Rights Act, the EEOC alleged that NCL America  discharged seven Middle Eastern crew members from various positions on the  cruise ship “Pride of Aloha.” NCL  America denied that it had acted improperly against these crew members in  agreeing to resolve the lawsuit.

“We are very pleased with this  outcome, and NCL America should be applauded for its commitment to prevent discrimination  by agreeing to the comprehensive injunctive relief in this case,” said Anna Y.  Park, regional attorney for the EEOC’s Los Angeles District Office, which  includes Hawaii.

Los Angeles District Director Olophius  Perry added, “We encourage all employers to utilize EEOC’s resources to ensure  proper EEO training and compliance.”

As part of the two year consent  decree resolving the case, NCL America agrees to pay the crew members $485,000.  With respect to the injunctive relief, NCL  America further agrees, among other things, to revise its policies to ensure a  workplace that promotes equal employment opportunity, to hire an EEO consultant,  and to provide training to its managers and employees on the company’s equal  employment policy and complaint procedure.

The litigation and consent decree  were filed by the EEOC in the U.S.    Court for the District of Hawaii (U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity  Commission and Almraisi, et. al., v. NCL America Inc., et. al., cv 06-00451  SOM BMK, cv 07-00372 SOM BMK).

The  EEOC enforces federal laws prohibiting employment discrimination. Further information  about the EEOC is available on the agency’s web site at www.eeoc.gov.