Sandra Polaski sworn in as U.S. Department of Labors deputy undersecretary for international affairs

WASHINGTON — Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis today announced the appointment of Sandra Polaski as deputy undersecretary for international affairs at the U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of International Labor Affairs (ILAB).

"Sandra's extensive experience with labor, employment and trade issues will make her an excellent leader and a great asset to the department," Secretary Solis said.

Previously, Polaski served as a senior associate and director of the trade, equity and development program at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.

Before that, Polaski worked at the U.S. Department of State as the secretary of state's special representative for international labor affairs. In that job, she integrated labor and employment issues into U.S. trade and foreign policy and served as the lead advisor on labor provisions in the U.S.-Jordan Free Trade Agreement and the U.S.-Cambodia Textile Agreement.

Her job experience also includes work as the director of research at the secretariat of the North American Commission for Labor Cooperation.

Polaski has a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Dayton. She has two Master of Arts degrees, one from the University of Wisconsin and the other from the Nitze School of Advanced International Studies at Johns Hopkins University.

ILAB conducts research on and formulates international economic, trade and labor policies in collaboration with other U.S. government agencies. It also provides international technical assistance in support of U.S. foreign-labor policy objectives. ILAB works to create a more stable, secure and prosperous international economic system in which all workers can achieve greater economic security, share in the benefits of increased international trade, and have safer and healthier workplaces where the basic rights of workers and children are respected and protected. For more information, visit http://www.dol.gov/ilab/.