Department of Labor

The Department of Labor (DOL) is a federal government agency in the United States responsible for promoting and improving working conditions, protecting workers’ rights, and enforcing labor laws. The agency was established in 1913 and is headquartered in Washington, D.C.

The Department of Labor has several divisions and programs that oversee various aspects of labor policy and enforcement. Some of its main divisions include the Wage and Hour Division, which enforces minimum wage and overtime laws; the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), which sets and enforces workplace safety standards; and the Employment and Training Administration, which provides job training and unemployment benefits.

The DOL also collects and publishes data on employment and labor market trends, including information on job growth, wages, and working conditions. Additionally, the agency is responsible for enforcing a range of federal labor laws, including the Fair Labor Standards Act, the Family and Medical Leave Act, and the Occupational Safety and Health Act.

Overall, the Department of Labor plays a key role in protecting workers’ rights and ensuring that workplaces are safe, fair, and equitable.

 

 

Governor Hochul Announces New Measures to Combat Rise in Child Labor Violations and …
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Governor Hochul Announces New Measures to Combat Rise in Child Labor Violations and …

Governor Kathy Hochul today announced new efforts to combat child labor violations and labor trafficking in New York State. In light of a significant 68 percent spike in reports of child labor violations in 2022 in New York State, Governor Hochul and the New York State Department of Labor are strengthening their commitment to ensuring…

‘A lot of abuse for little pay’: how US farming profits from exploitation and brutality
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‘A lot of abuse for little pay’: how US farming profits from exploitation and brutality

Two dozen conspirators forced workers to pay fees for travel and housing while forcing them to work for little to no pay. In June, a farm worker from Mexico, who requested to remain anonymous for fear of retaliation, was transported through a trafficking network from Monterey to work on farms in Georgia. They paid the…

The U.S. Is Choosing Child Labor Over More Immigration
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The U.S. Is Choosing Child Labor Over More Immigration

On storefronts throughout the U.S., “Help Wanted” signs have become about as ubiquitous as the stars and stripes. Today, there are roughly two job openings for every unemployed American. This historic labor shortage is propping up inflation as desperate employers raise wages to attract scarce workers, then boost prices to compensate for higher costs. Or…

Another guilty of trafficking women in cantina backroom – Department of Justice
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Another guilty of trafficking women in cantina backroom – Department of Justice

HOUSTON – A 30-year-old man who resided in Houston has pleaded guilty to several sex trafficking crimes and possession of child pornography, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani. Edgar Botello admitted to sex trafficking with force, fraud or coercion and conspiracy to do so as well as possession of child pornography. “Sex traffickers prey on…

The bitter side of chocolate – Newberry Observer
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The bitter side of chocolate – Newberry Observer

Chocolate is often hailed as an aphrodisiac and Americans seem to have quite the love affair with the sweet confection in all its forms. Charles M. Schulz best summed up America’s love of chocolate when he said, “all you need is love. But a little chocolate now and then doesn’t hurt.” Chocolate originated in Central…

Guest column/Human trafficking a problem we all should be aware of – The Herald Star
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Guest column/Human trafficking a problem we all should be aware of – The Herald Star

I was visiting my two youngest daughters when they lived in North Carolina a few years ago. As I walked through the local Wally-World I was approached by a young man. He was a stranger to me, and I have no idea to this day why he chose to strike up a conversation with me….

Human trafficking has many faces | News, Sports, Jobs – Morning Journal
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Human trafficking has many faces | News, Sports, Jobs – Morning Journal

I was visiting my two youngest daughters when they lived in North Carolina a few years ago. As I walked through the local Wally-World I was approached by a young man. He was a stranger to me, and I have no idea to this day why he chose to strike up a conversation with me….

US ambassador addresses human trafficking in Vietnam border province
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US ambassador addresses human trafficking in Vietnam border province

“Countering human trafficking is a priority for the U.S. government and I want to thank you for our excellent cooperation here, including on several counter-trafficking projects in Lao Cai supported by the U.S. Embassy,” Knapper said, as cited in a U.S. embassy’s statement. During the two-day trip on Monday and Tuesday, Knapper met with local…

Paid fines indicate meat industry's use of child labor is more widespread than previously known
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Paid fines indicate meat industry's use of child labor is more widespread than previously known

If Homeland Security is investigating the meat industry for human trafficking as was reported, it could be a long time before anything specific about that is known. But the Labor Department has now imposed monetary penalties totaling $1.5 million on a labor contractor who placed more than 100 children into hazardous meat industry jobs. Those…

Meat plant cleaning service fined $1.5M for hiring minors to work in Colorado, other states
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Meat plant cleaning service fined $1.5M for hiring minors to work in Colorado, other states

By Steve Karnowski, The Associated Press MINNEAPOLIS — One of the country’s largest cleaning services for food processing companies employed more than 100 children in dangerous jobs at 13 meatpacking plants across the country, the U.S. Department of Labor said Friday as it announced over $1.5 million in civil penalties. The investigation into Packers Sanitation Services…