Strong Enforcement and Compliance Assistance Formula
Working to Protect More Workers

WASHINGTON—End of year statistics released by the Employment Standards Administration for its Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) show the agency’s enforcement efforts and compliance assistance plans worked to benefit nearly 1.5 million workers employed by contractors reviewed this year. More than 4,000 OFCCP investigations resulted in nearly $24 million for approximately 9,000 victims of unlawful discrimination in the workplace.

“Vigorous, effective enforcement and compliance assistance are working to create workplaces free of discrimination,” said U.S. Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao. “Our commitment to enforcing the law remains strong and the data shows contractors’ willingness to step up their compliance efforts.”

OFCCP’s 4,135 compliance reviews completed in FY 2002 include a 20% increase in Corporate Management Reviews aimed at ensuring corporate headquarters are free of “glass ceilings” for women and minorities. $9 million in backpay collected for victims of discrimination went to 5,198 low-wage earners.

“Particularly in OFCCP, our mission is to make sure employees are treated fairly in the workplace,” said Assistant Secretary for the Employment Standards Administration Victoria A. Lipnic. “Our investigators are striving to target workplaces where discrimination is most likely to exist and to more effectively manage their case loads.”

This year the agency substantially increased the monetary benefits collected in each conciliation agreement.

On the compliance front, staff nearly tripled the number of hours spent on compliance assistance programs, including nearly 300 workshops, seminars and town hall meetings and 500 individual contacts with contractors. These efforts help contractors develop programs and correct problems to create and maintain equal employment opportunity workplaces.

# # #

_________________________________________________________________

Archived News Release — Caution: Information may be out of date.