WASHINGTON – With the National Retail Federation expecting retailers to hire more than 500,000 seasonal workers and employers hopeful for a busy holiday season, the U.S. Department of Labor reminds them not to overlook their worker’s rights to a safe and healthy workplace and to be paid all of their legally earned wages.

BIRMINGHAM, AL – U.S. Secretary of Labor Marty Walsh stood with workers and local officials in Birmingham, Alabama, today to announce the department’s final rule that implements Executive Order 14026 to increase the hourly minimum wage for employees on federal contracts to $15 per hour beginning Jan. 30, 2022. President Biden signed the order on April 27, 2021.

WASHINGTON – U.S. Secretary of Labor Marty Walsh issued the following statement on President Biden’s nomination of Jerome Powell as Chair and Lael Brainard as Vice Chair of the Federal Reserve:

“These nominations are good news for America’s workers. The President’s economic plan has produced a historic recovery that has restored 5.6 million jobs, increased worker power and raised wages for workers at the lower end of the income distribution.

WASHINGTON –The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a final rule that implements Executive Order 14026 to increase the hourly minimum wage for employees on federal contracts beginning Jan. 30, 2022. President Biden signed the order on April 27, 2021.

DES MOINES – The U.S. Department of Labor and the State of Iowa have signed a five-year Memorandum of Understanding to provide opportunities for the department’s Wage and Hour Division and the state’s Workforce Development agency to conduct joint investigations and outreach, and share training materials and other information as appropriate to ensure Iowa workers’ rights and wages are protected.

HOUSTON – A federal whistleblower investigation led the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration to order a Houston mobile crane rental company to pay a former employee nearly $24,000 in back wages, interest and damages after firing the worker in June 2020 for refusing to drive in excess of federal limits and reported fatigue.

OREM, UT - El Departamento de Trabajo de EE.UU. ha recuperado $32,356 en salarios atrasados por horas extras para ocho trabajadores, y ha identificado violaciones de trabajo infantil después de su investigación de un empleador de Orem cuyo negocio opera como panadería, restaurante y tienda de comestibles.

LODI, NJ – A U.S. Department of Labor administrative law judge ordered a northern New Jersey trucking company contracted by the U.S. Postal Service to haul mail in the New York City metro-area to pay $549,209 in back wages to 46 drivers after a U.S. Department of Labor investigation found wage, benefits and recordkeeping violations over a three-year period. The judge further ordered the company, its owner, and a second related company debarred from federal contracting for 3 years.

OREM, UT – The U.S. Department of Labor has recovered $32,356 in overtime back wages for eight workers, and identified child labor violations after its investigation of an Orem employer whose business operates as a bakery, restaurant and grocery store.

MANCHESTER, NH - El incumplimiento de las leyes federales por parte de un contratista de aislamiento y techado de Vermont ha llevado a la recuperación de $163,492 en sueldos atrasados ​​y multas monetarias civiles para resolver violaciones del programa de visas de trabajadores contratados bajo el programa de visado H-2B y la

WASHINGTON – U.S. Secretary of Labor Marty Walsh and Switzerland’s President Guy Parmelin signed a memorandum of understanding today to expand apprenticeships among Swiss companies and Swiss-invested companies in the U.S., and promote job creation in both countries. Swiss companies actively invest in U.S.

MANCHESTER, NH – A Vermont-based insulation and roofing contractor’s disregard of federal laws has led to the recovery of $163,492 in back wages and civil money penalties to resolve violations of the H-2B guest worker visa program and Fair Labor Standards Act.

MAXTON, NC – Federal laws exist to ensure employees who work on projects funded by public tax dollars receive all of their legally earned wages and fringe benefits. When a Maxton training contractor’s pay practices shortchanged 35 workers employed at Fort Bragg and other military installations, the U.S. Department of Labor took action.

In the week ending November 13, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 268,000, a decrease of 1,000 from the previous week's revised level. This is the lowest level for initial claims since March 14, 2020 when it was 256,000. The previous week's level was revised up by 2,000 from 267,000 to 269,000. The 4-week moving average was 272,750, a decrease of 5,750 from the previous week's revised average. This is the lowest level for this average since March 14, 2020 when it was 225,500. The previous week's average was revised up by 500 from 278,000 to 278,500.

AUSTIN, TX – Officials from the U.S. Department of Labor and the Travis County District Attorney’s Office signed a Memorandum of Understanding to expand and improve the protection of Travis County’s workforce, enforcement of wage laws and level the playing field for responsible employers. 

DENTON, TX – As the coronavirus began to spread rapidly across the nation in March 2020, an employee of one of the world’s largest manufacturers of light, medium and heavy-duty trucks told a supervisor of their concerns about exposure to the virus at the Denton facility.

CHICAGO – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration, Illinois On-Site Safety and Health Consultation Program, Lakeside Alliance and key participants will sign a strategic partnership to prevent serious hazards and enhance workplace safety and health practices for workers constructing the Obama Presidential Center in Jackson Park on Chicago’s South side.

LAS CRUCES, NM – Amid the pandemic, many restaurant workers suffered lost or reduced wages when businesses closed or were forced to limit or suspend indoor dining. For workers employed by a Las Cruces restaurant operator, making ends meet became more difficult when their employer shortchanged them.

WASHINGTON –The U.S. Department of Labor today launched an online dialogue with stakeholders to increase access to Registered Apprenticeships for job seekers in underrepresented communities.

Conversation and ideas shared will help develop and shape future Registered Apprenticeship programs and funding opportunities, and foster diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility.