The Contract Labour Act

The Law The first version of the Alien contract labor act of February 26, 1885 was written in comprehensive terms and stated in its first section, “It shall be unlawful for any person, company, partnership, or corporation, in any manner whatsoever, to prepay the transportation ,or in any way assist or encourage the importation or migration of any alien or aliens, any foreigner or foreigners, into the united states, its territories, or the district of Columbia, under contract or agreement, parol or special, express or implied, made previous to the importation or migration of such alien or aliens, foreigner or foreigners, to perform labor or service of any kind in the United States, its Territories, or the District of Columbia.” The second section of the law voided all contracts or agreements if made prior to immigration. The next two sections provided penalties including a fine of 500 dollars for employers who knowingly bring a contract laborer into the country. Fifth section provides an outline of exemptions from the act. They are (1) foreigners temporarily in the United States and engaging other foreigners as secretaries, servants, or domestics, (2) skilled laborers, provided that such laborers cannot be obtained in the US (3) professional actors, artists, lecturers, or singers, or persons employed strictly as a personal or domestic servants. Finally exempt was (4) assistance by a resident of a member of his family or a personal friend to come for the purpose of settlement.