U.S. Department of Labor Signs Agreement with Wisconsin Department Of Workforce Development, Boosts Effectiveness of Both Agencies

MINNEAPOLIS, MN – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Equal Rights Division of the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development.

The three-year agreement paves the way for the two agencies to work together more easily and to communicate more efficiently and effectively, providing an opportunity for the agencies to conduct joint investigations, conduct joint outreach, share training materials and other information as appropriate. WHD’s District Office in Minneapolis, Minnesota, signed the agreement. The office serves Minnesota and Wisconsin.

“The U.S. Department of Labor and the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development are committed to working together proactively to provide compliance assistance and worker rights information to Wisconsin’s employers,” said Wage and Hour Regional Administrator Michael Lazzeri in Chicago, Illinois. “This agreement will help to promote greater engagement and dialogue with employers and employees in Wisconsin and ensure workers’ rights are protected, while maximizing the efficiency of the work of both agencies.”

For more information about laws enforced by WHD, contact the division’s toll-free helpline at 866-4US-WAGE (487-9243). Information is also available at https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd.

WHD’s mission is to promote and achieve compliance with labor standards to protect and enhance the welfare of the nation’s workforce. WHD enforces federal minimum wage, overtime pay, recordkeeping and child labor requirements of the Fair Labor Standards Act. WHD also enforces the Migrant and Seasonal Agricultural Worker Protection Act, the Employee Polygraph Protection Act, the Family and Medical Leave Act, wage garnishment provisions of the Consumer Credit Protection Act and a number of employment standards and worker protections as provided in several immigration related statutes. Additionally, WHD administers and enforces the prevailing wage requirements of the Davis-Bacon Act and the Service Contract Act, and other statutes applicable to federal contracts for construction and for the provision of goods and services.

The mission of the Department of Labor is to foster, promote and develop the welfare of the wage earners, job seekers and retirees of the United States; improve working conditions; advance opportunities for profitable employment; and assure work-related benefits and rights.

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