What is the agency of the government that protects the rights of workers?

As a U.S. Department of Labor employee, you will help 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, and much more. Find out more about our agencies:

Bureau of International Labor Affairs (ILAB)

ILAB's mission is to promote a fair global playing field for workers in the United States and around the world by enforcing trade commitments, strengthening labor standards, and combating international child labor, forced labor, and human trafficking.

Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS)

The Bureau of Labor Statistics is the principal federal agency responsible for measuring labor market activity, working conditions, and price changes in the economy. Its mission is to collect, analyze, and disseminate essential economic information to support public and private decision-making. As an independent statistical agency, BLS serves its diverse user communities by providing products and services that are objective, timely, accurate, and relevant.

Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA)

The mission of the Employee Benefits Security Administration is to assure the security of the retirement, health and other workplace related benefits of America's workers and their families. EBSA accomplishes this mission by developing effective regulations; assisting and educating workers, plan sponsors, fiduciaries and service providers; and vigorously enforcing the law.

Employment and Training Administration (ETA)

The mission of the Employment and Training Administration 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 and Health Administration (MSHA)

The U.S. Department of Labor’s Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) works to prevent death, illness, and injury from mining and promote safe and healthful workplaces for U.S. miners.

MSHA carries out the provisions of the Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977 (Mine Act) as amended by the Mine Improvement and New Emergency Response (MINER) Act of 2006.

The agency develops and enforces safety and health rules for all U.S. mines regardless of size, number of employees, commodity mined, or method of extraction. MSHA also provides technical, educational and other types of assistance to mine operators. We work cooperatively with industry, labor, and other federal and state agencies to improve safety and health conditions for all miners in the United States.

Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)

With the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, Congress created the Occupational Safety and Health Administration to assure safe and healthful working conditions for working men and women by setting and enforcing standards and by providing training, outreach, education and assistance.

Office of Congressional and Intergovernmental Affairs (OCIA)

The Office of Congressional and Intergovernmental Affairs serves to advance the Secretary's mission promoting the Department of Labor as the Department of Opportunity to policymakers both in Washington and throughout state and local governments. OCIA assists the Secretary of Labor, Deputy Secretary, agency heads, and departmental staff to develop effective programs and strategies to achieve the Department's legislative goals and objectives. OCIA also coordinates with Departmental leadership to educate policymakers about the Department's programs and federal labor issues.

Office of the Assistant Secretary for Administration and Management (OASAM)

OASAM provides the infrastructure and support that enables the Department of Labor to perform its mission. OASAM provides leadership and support for Departmental business operations and procurement; information technology; human resources and civil rights; security and emergency management; and strategic planning.

Office of the Assistant Secretary for Policy (OASP)

The Office of the Assistant Secretary for Policy provides advice to the Secretary of Labor, Deputy Secretary, and Department on matters of policy development, program evaluation, regulations, budget and legislation that will improve the lives of workers, retirees and their families. Integral to this role, OASP leads special initiatives and manages cross- and inter- Department activities and is the policy innovation arm of the Department of Labor that invests in research and analysis of current and emerging labor issues including: the growing wage gap for working families, ensuring protections and opportunity for all workers, policies that promote work and family balance, and labor standards for the rapidly changing 21st century economy.

Office of the Chief Financial Officer (OCFO)

The Office of Chief Financial Officer is responsible for the financial leadership of DOL and its primary duty is to uphold strong financial management and accountability while providing timely, accurate, and reliable financial information and enhancing internal control.

OCFO was created as a result of the Chief Financial Officers Act of 1990 and is led by a presidentially-appointed, Senate confirmed Chief Financial Officer and supported by the Deputy Chief Financial Officer and two Associate Deputy Chief Financial Officers who are career members of the Senior Executive Service.

Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP)

ODEP's mission is to develop and influence policies and practices that increase the number and quality of employment opportunities for people with disabilities.

To fulfill this mission, ODEP promotes the adoption and implementation of ODEP policy strategies and effective practices – meaning those that ODEP has developed and/or validated – that will impact the employment of people with disabilities. ODEP's approach is to drive systems and practice changes by disseminating ODEP policy strategies and effective practices, sharing information, and providing technical assistance to government agencies, service providers and non-governmental entities, as well as public and private employers. Through these activities, ODEP contributes to the achievement of: DOL's Strategic Goal 3: Promote fair and high quality work-life environments and Strategic Objective 3.1: Breakdown barriers to fair and diverse workplaces and narrow income inequality.

Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP)

At the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs, we protect workers, promote diversity and enforce the law. OFCCP holds those who do business with the federal government-contractors and subcontractors-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. In addition, contractors and subcontractors are prohibited from discharging or otherwise discriminating against applicants or employees who inquire about, discuss or disclose their compensation or that of others, subject to certain limitations.

Office of Inspector General (OIG)

We serve the American Workforce, the Department of Labor, and the Congress by providing independent and objective oversight of Departmental programs through audits and investigations, and by combating the influence of labor racketeering in the workplace.

Office of Labor-Management and Standards (OLMS)

The Office of Labor-Management Standards in the U.S. Department of Labor is the Federal agency responsible for administering and enforcing most provisions of the Labor-Management Reporting and Disclosure Act of 1959, as amended (LMRDA). The LMRDA directly affects millions of people throughout the United States. The law was enacted by Congress primarily to ensure basic standards of democracy and financial integrity in labor organizations representing employees in private industry. Unions representing U.S. Postal Service employees became subject to the LMRDA with the passage of the Postal Reorganization Act of 1970. Additionally, the LMRDA promotes labor union and labor-management transparency through reporting and disclosure requirements for labor unions and their officials, employers, and labor relations consultants, and surety companies.

OLMS also administers provisions of the Civil Service Reform Act of 1978 and the Foreign Service Act of 1980 relating to standards of conduct for Federal employee organizations, which are comparable to LMRDA requirements. OLMS does not have jurisdiction over unions representing solely state, county, or municipal employees.

Office of the Solicitor (SOL)

The Office of the Solicitor's mission is to meet the legal service demands of the entire Department of Labor. As the Secretary of Labor and other Department officials seek to accomplish the Department's overall mission and to further specific priorities, the Office of the Solicitor (SOL) provides legal advice regarding how to achieve those goals. In doing so, SOL ensures that the Nation's labor laws are forcefully and fairly applied to protect the Nation's workers.

SOL fulfills its mission by representing the Secretary and the client agencies in all necessary litigation, including both enforcement actions and defensive litigation, and in alternative dispute resolution activities; by assisting in the development of regulations, standards and legislative proposals; and by providing legal opinions and advice concerning all the Department’s activities.

Office of Workers' Compensation Programs (OWCP)

The Mission of the Office of Workers' Compensation Programs is to protect the interests of workers who are injured or become ill on the job, their families and their employers by making timely, appropriate, and accurate decisions on claims, providing prompt payment of benefits and helping injured workers return to gainful work as early as is feasible.

Veterans' Employment and Training Service (VETS)

VETS’ prepares America's veterans, service members and their spouses, for meaningful careers, provides them with employment resources and expertise, protects their employment rights and promotes their employment opportunities.

Wage and Hour Division (WHD)

The Wage and Hour mission is to promote and achieve compliance with labor standards to protect and enhance the welfare of the Nation’s workforce.

The 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.

Women's Bureau (WB)

Women in the workforce are vital to the nation's economic security. The Women's Bureau develops policies and standards and conducts inquiries to safeguard the interests of working women; to advocate for their equality and economic security for themselves and their families; and to promote quality work environments.