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What is the Department of Labor (DOL)?

The Department of Labor (DOL) oversees federal programs for ensuring a strong American workforce. These programs address job training, safe working conditions, minimum hourly wage and overtime pay, employment discrimination, and unemployment insurance. The Department of Labor’s mission is to foster and promote the welfare of the job seekers, wage earners, and retirees of the United States by improving their working conditions, advancing their opportunities for profitable employment, protecting their retirement and health care benefits, helping employers find workers, strengthening free collective bargaining, and tracking changes in employment, prices, and other national economic measurements.

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Child Labor, Forced Labor & Human Trafficking Has been a world leader in the fight to eradicate labor exploitation across the globe.

Comply Chain Is a series of documents intended to help companies build or improve a social compliance system to avoid violation of U.S. trade law prohibiting importation of goods made in whole or in part with forced labor.

Babel Notice: Accessing Language Services The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) strives to provide language assistance services to individuals with limited English proficiency, thus ensuring access to BLS data and services to as many people as possible.

Data and Statistics From the Women's Bureau.

DOL Topics

Equal Employment Opportunity Policy

Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993

FOIA

List of Goods Produced by Child Labor or Forced Labor Comprises 159 goods from 78 countries and areas, as of September 28, 2022

Migrant and Seasonal Agricultural Worker Protection Act 

Newsroom The DOL offers many ways to stay informed on the work of the department and its agencies.

Recursos en Español DOL resources in Spanish.

Topics within the DOL. These topics range from workplace rights, benefits, getting and leaving a job, information for employers, workplace safety and health, statistics and research.

DOL Agencies

Administrative Review Board (ARB) Issues agency decisions in cases arising worker protection laws, including whistleblower and public contract laws.

Benefits Review Board (BRB) Reviews appeals of decisions under the Black Lung Benefits Act, and the Longshore and Harbor Workers' Compensation Act and its extensions—including the Defense Base Act.

Bureau of International Labor Affairs (ILAB) Leads the U.S. government’s efforts to improve working conditions and fight labor exploitation around the world.

Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Is the principal fact-finding agency for the Federal Government in the broad field of labor economics and statistics.

Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA) The mission is to ensure the security of the retirement, health, and other job-based benefits of America's workers and their families.

Employees' Compensation Appeals Board (ECAB) Hears appeals taken from determinations and awards under the Federal Employees' Compensation Act.

Employment and Training Administration (ETA) The mission is to contribute to the more efficient functioning of the U.S. labor market by providing high-quality job training, employment, labor market information, and income maintenance services primarily through state and local workforce development systems.

Mine Safety & Health Administration (MSHA) Works to prevent death, illness, and injury from mining and promote safe and healthful workplaces for U.S. miners.

Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Ensures safe and healthful working conditions for workers by setting and enforcing standards and by providing training, outreach, education and assistance.

Office of Administrative Law Judges (OALJ) The mission is to provide a neutral forum to resolve labor-related administrative disputes before the DOL in a fair, transparent and accessible manner, and to promptly issue sound decisions correct in law and fact.

Office of Congressional and Intergovernmental Affairs (OCIA) Serves to advance the Secretary’s mission by educating policymakers in Washington, throughout state and local governments, and in Tribal Nations about DOL priorities. 

Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) The mission is to develop and influence policies and practices that increase the number and quality of employment opportunities for people with disabilities.

Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) Holds those who do business with the federal government responsible for complying with the legal requirement to take affirmative action and not discriminate on the basis of race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran.

Office of Inspector General (OIG) Conducts audits to review the effectiveness, efficiency, economy, and integrity of all DOL programs and operations, including those performed by its contractors and grantees.

Office of Labor-Management Standards (OLMS) Helps ensure that workers have a voice in the workplace and highlights the important role unions play in the modern American economy.

Office of the Assistant Secretary for Administration & Management (OASAM) Provides leadership and support for information technology, human resources management, procurement, business operations, safety and health, space management, civil rights, emergency management, security, budget, and performance.

Office of the Assistant Secretary for Policy (OASP) Is the principal policy, regulatory, data governance and evaluation office for the DOL.

Office of the Chief Financial Officer (OCFO) Is responsible for the financial leadership of Department and upholding strong financial management and accountability.

Office of the Solicitor (SOL) The mission is to meet the legal service demands of the entire Department of Labor.

Office of Workers' Compensation Programs (OWCP) Administers four major disability compensation programs that provide wage replacement benefits, medical treatment, vocational rehabilitation and other benefits to certain workers or their dependents who experience work-related injury or occupational disease. 

Ombudsman for the Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program (EEOMBD) 

Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC) Protects the retirement incomes of over 31 million American workers in private sector defined benefit pension plans.

Veterans' Employment and Training Service (VETS) To enable all veterans, service members, and military spouses to reach their full potential in the workplace.

Wage and Hour Division (WHD) Enforces federal minimum wage, overtime pay, recordkeeping, and child labor requirements of the Fair Labor Standards Act.

Women's Bureau Champions policies and standards that safeguard the interests of working women, advocates for the equality and economic security of women and their families, and promotes quality work environments.