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ESA News Release: [12/18/2002]
Contact Name: Yvonne
Ralsky
Phone Number: (202) 693-4676
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.
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