Under which principle must US companies comply with US employment laws while operating abroad?

The principle of extraterritoriality allows a country to extend its laws and regulations beyond its borders. For U.S. companies operating abroad, this means they are still required to comply with U.S. employment laws, even when they are not physically located within U.S. territory. This principle stems from the notion that U.S. laws can apply to U.S. citizens and entities regardless of their location, ensuring that certain rights and protections are upheld irrespective of the country in which business operations are conducted.

This principle is particularly relevant in situations involving human rights, labor standards, and anti-discrimination laws, which have extraterritorial implications. The enforcement of U.S. laws in other countries helps maintain a standard of conduct for American companies and promotes ethical business practices internationally.

In contrast, civil law, common law, and religious law pertain to different legal systems and frameworks that do not specifically address the obligation of U.S. companies to adhere to U.S. laws while abroad. Civil law understanding is based on written statutes, common law arises from judicial precedents, and religious law is derived from religious texts, none of which directly govern the extraterritorial application of U.S. employment regulations.