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.

Chair Powell’s actions and Lael Brainard’s guidance have been responsive to the challenges facing workers during the pandemic and they have helped to advance this worker-centered recovery. Both of these independent leaders share the Administration’s focus on economic growth that benefits all workers, which is the key to building a more just and a resilient economy moving forward.”

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.

The rule applies in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and specified U.S. territories, and does the following:

• Increases the hourly minimum wage for workers performing work on or in connection with covered federal contracts to $15 beginning Jan. 30, 2022. 
• Continues to index the federal contract minimum wage in future years to inflation.
• Eliminates the tipped minimum wage for federal contract employees by 2024. 
• Ensures a $15 minimum wage for workers with disabilities performing work on or in connection with covered contracts.
• Restores minimum wage protections to outfitters and guides operating on federal lands. 

“The workers helped by Executive Order 14026 and today’s final rule do essential work on our nation’s behalf. They build and repair the federal infrastructure, clean and maintain our national parks, monuments and other federal facilities, care for our veterans, and ensure federal workers and military service members are provided with safe  and nutritious food,” said U.S. Secretary of Labor Marty Walsh. “Implementing this Executive Order improves the economic security of these workers and their families, many of whom are women and people of color.” 

Executive Order 14026 applies to new contracts, and renewals and extensions of existing contracts, beginning Jan. 30, 2022.  

“In addition to promoting efficiency in federal contracting, the implementation of Executive Order 14026 has other benefits,” said Wage and Hour Division Acting Administrator Jessica Looman. “The final rule adds value for taxpayers by boosting worker productivity and reducing employee turnover and absenteeism. It also allows federal contractors to retain top talent, and reduce recruiting and training costs.” 

Learn more about protections for federal contractors or more about the Wage and Hour Division. You may also call toll-free 1-866-4US-WAGE to speak directly and confidentially to a trained Wage and Hour Division professional. The division protects workers regardless of immigration status, and can communicate with workers in more than 200 languages.

WASHINGTON – U.S. Secretary of Labor Marty Walsh issued the following statement on the October 2021 Employment Situation Report:

“Today, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that the American economy added 531,000 jobs in the month of October, and the unemployment rate was 4.6 percent, down from 4.8 percent in September. The Biden-Harris administration is getting Americans back to work at a historic pace, with 5.6 million jobs added since the President took office and an average of 620,000 jobs per month. October growth was strong across the private sector, with especially significant gains in manufacturing, business services, leisure and hospitality and the care economy, all hit hard by COVID.

“This report reminds us how essential our pandemic response is to our economic recovery. Getting shots in arms and relief to families has allowed many more Americans to return to work and made our economy more resilient to issues like the Delta variant. Today's data reveals that the number of people who are not rejoining the workforce due to COVID-related concerns dropped to its lowest level since the beginning of the pandemic. We need to keep doing everything we can to help people stay healthy and return to work with confidence. Continuing to prioritize public health through measures such as workplace vaccination and testing policies will be key to our progress moving forward. 

“The report also shows that unemployment among Black and Hispanic workers, and workers without high school diplomas, remained significantly higher than the overall rate, another clear indicator that we must prioritize equity in our economic recovery. The President’s infrastructure and Build Back Better plans would address these needs directly by creating quality jobs, building inclusive pathways into those jobs, and lowering costs for all working families.”

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor is seeking nominations for membership for the newly reestablished Federal Advisory Council on Occupational Safety and Health, which advises the Secretary of Labor on all matters relating to the occupational safety and health of federal employees.

Secretary of Labor Marty Walsh reauthorized the council’s two-year charter on Oct. 1, 2021, to begin the process of reestablishing the 16-member council. Specifically, its members advise the Secretary on how to reduce the number of injuries and illnesses in the federal workforce, and how to encourage each federal Executive Branch department and agency to establish and maintain effective occupational safety and health programs.

The department is committed to equal opportunity in the workplace and seeks broad-based and diverse council members. By charter, eight members will represent management in federal departments and agencies, and eight members will represent federal employees. The Secretary appoints members for staggered terms of up to three years and may appoint some members to successive terms. The council meets at least twice a year.

Read the Federal Register notice for submission instructions. Submit nominations electronically, and refer to Docket No. OSHA-2021-0010 at www.regulations.gov, the Federal eRulemaking Portal. Submit nominations by Nov. 1, 2021. OSHA anticipates filling all vacancies by December 2021.

Learn more about OSHA.

WASHINGTON – Secretary of Labor Marty Walsh today issued the following statement on the U.S. Department of Homeland Security announcement of a new worksite enforcement strategy:

“Labor laws exist to provide a basic level of protection for all workers in the U.S. When employers take advantage of immigrant workers, the government must be there to defend workers’ rights to fair wages and safe working conditions. We commend the worksite enforcement strategy laid out by Department of Homeland Security Secretary Mayorkas as a bold step to help stop these abuses.

The Department of Labor stands ready to continue and expand our work with the Department of Homeland Security to ensure all people can work free from exploitation and retaliation. Unscrupulous employers can no longer build their businesses on the backs of exploited people.”

WASHINGTON – U.S. Secretary of Labor Marty Walsh issued the following statement on the September 2021 Employment Situation Report:

“Today, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that the American economy added 194,000 jobs in the month of September, and the unemployment rate was 4.8 percent, down from 5.2 percent in August. With the lowest unemployment rate since the pandemic began and sustained growth in private sector employment, the Biden-Harris administration is continuing to get people back to work. Since the President took office, we have added 4.8 million jobs, an average of over 600,000 jobs per month.

“At the Department of Labor we are committed to an inclusive recovery, and we saw good news this month as the rates of Black and Hispanic unemployment, while still too high, both dropped. We have to make sure these gains are sustainable and built on more workers returning to good jobs. The President’s bipartisan infrastructure plan and Build Back Better agenda offer powerful and necessary ways to continue this progress toward equity. In the meantime, to sustain our recovery we must all continue to prioritize public health. Employer vaccine requirements are working to bring case numbers down, help more people get back to work and stay healthy, and strengthen our economy.”

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor and the Hawaii Department of Labor and Industrial Relations have entered into a voluntary conciliation agreement to ensure those with limited English proficiency and eligible non-U.S. citizens seeking to file claims for unemployment insurance benefits have better access to services.

The agreement follows an investigation by the federal department’s Civil Rights Center into complaints that the state’s UI program was failing to make its services fully available to those two groups. During the investigation, the state labor department offered to work with CRC to resolve the complaints amicably.

“This agreement symbolizes how federal and state governments can work together to improve access to government services for limited English proficient communities and others protected by civil rights law, particularly during these difficult times,” said Civil Rights Center Director Naomi Barry-Perez. “We appreciate Hawaii’s commitment to non-discrimination and its willingness to address these allegations affirmatively and cooperatively.”

To provide better access to LEP claimants and eligible non-U.S. citizens, DLIR has, among other actions, agreed to

• Reinstate non-electronic methods of filing UI claims and appeals.
• Ensure vital information is provided in select non-English languages as required by law.
• Provide interpretation and translation services to individuals with limited English proficiency upon request or where otherwise required by law.
• Ensure that its claims-filing system captures all the information needed to establish whether non-U.S. citizen applicants are eligible to receive UI benefits.
• Train staff on the state’s citizenship- and limited English proficiency-related obligations under the laws enforced by the Civil Rights Center.
• Periodically review the language assistance services provided by its offices to ensure that those services are timely, accurate and effective.

CRC enforces nondiscrimination laws that apply to the nation’s unemployment insurance program, as well as to other recipients of financial assistance from the U.S. Department of Labor and, in some circumstances, from other federal departments and agencies. For more information about the center, visit the Civil Rights Center’s website or call 202-693-6500 (voice) or 800-877-8339 (relay).

WASHINGTON DC – To recognize their sacrifices and ceaseless efforts to protect our health and keep our country moving forward amid the coronavirus pandemic, the U.S. Department of Labor today announced the induction of Essential Workers of the Coronavirus Pandemic into the department’s Hall of Honor.

Through so many difficult months, frontline workers have helped to provide safety, healthcare, education, food and groceries, delivery service and many other necessities, kept our nation strong and made its recovery possible.

“Amid the pandemic, our nation’s essential workers redefined what it truly means to show up for your neighbor,” said U.S. Secretary of Labor Marty Walsh. “As a country, we have a new understanding and appreciation of the vital work and the service these people provide to us every single day. The Department of Labor will ensure that their sacrifice and commitment are never forgotten as the Essential Workers of the Coronavirus Pandemic become the newest inductees in our Hall of Honor.”

Established in 1988, the Department of Labor Hall of Honor recognizes Americans whose distinctive contributions have elevated working conditions, wages and overall quality of life for the nation’s families. The Hall of Honor exhibit includes portraits and brief biographies of a select group of inductees who include John L. Lewis, Frances Perkins, Walter Reuther, Cesar Chavez, the 9/11 Rescue Workers, Helen Keller, Bayard Rustin and Sen. Ted Kennedy. The Hall of Honor is located inside the North Plaza of the department’s Frances Perkins Building at 200 Constitution Ave NW in Washington, D.C.

In addition to their induction, the department is also inviting people across the nation to submit the names, stories and pictures of essential workers who have helped or inspired them during the pandemic.

“We can’t induct every essential worker by name, so we’re inviting everyone to tell us about workers they want to recognize,” Secretary Walsh continued. “We look forward to sharing these stories as part of our Hall of Honor induction celebration.”

Share names, photos and stories of essential workers who have helped or inspired you. The department will review submissions and incorporate them into online communications and Hall of Honor induction materials.

WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Secretary of Labor Marty Walsh issued the following statement regarding Labor Day:

“We come to this second Labor Day of the ongoing pandemic having made great progress, and at the same time, acknowledging our continued losses. We honor the workers who, at great personal peril, have carried us this far. And we know that the dual project of defeating the coronavirus and rebuilding the economy is far from complete.

“This Labor Day, we reflect on what it means to honor the sacrifices of millions of essential workers and their families. Both in terms of the monumental effort they have put forth to support us all, and in the heartache the pandemic has wrought across the country. We acknowledge that many of the workers and families on the frontlines of the pandemic are among the lowest paid, and most vulnerable. Saying ‘thank you’ is the right thing to do, but it does not truly recognize their contributions. Telling them they are ‘heroes,’ which they no doubt are, does nothing to improve their lot. To properly honor these and all workers, today we recommit to our efforts to build an economy and a labor market that are more just and equitable, and create opportunity for all.

“Opportunity comes in many forms, and what happens at work impacts our lives around the clock. Morning, noon and night. With this in mind, we remain committed to growing the care economy and addressing the care needs of workers and their families in ways that allow them to thrive in their jobs. We will build a modern, inclusive workforce – ensuring workers have good jobs, opportunities for advancement and seats at the table, where workplace conversation doesn’t mean just a one-way communication from employers to workers, but a conversation that takes into account the needs and ambitions of all. And we will provide some peace of mind that one setback won’t destroy a family’s well-being – that you can get health care, find support for transitions in your career and retire with dignity.

“Often now we hear of the ‘return to work’ or the ‘return to normal.’ While many of us pray for these things, it is not enough to look back and expect that anything will be the way it was. At the Labor Department, we want things to be better. We will stand shoulder to shoulder with workers in building a future that works for everyone – with a stronger economy for all that is more prosperous, just and durable than we could have imagined prior to this great change that we are committed to learning from and overcoming.”

WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Secretary of Labor Marty Walsh issued the following statement on the August 2021 Employment Situation Report:

“Today, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that the American economy added 235,000 jobs in the month of August, and the unemployment rate was 5.2 percent, down from 5.4 percent in July. With average growth of 750,000 in the last three months and the lowest unemployment rate since the pandemic began, the Biden-Harris Administration is continuing to get Americans back to work. But we have work to do to beat back the Delta variant and build an inclusive economy. Rising infection rates in some states hit the food and retail sectors hard, where workers of color and women are disproportionately represented.  

“So as we enter a Labor Day weekend like no other, not only do we show our appreciation for the essential workers who keep us going, we commit to turning that appreciation into action by improving the lives of all workers in America. In the Department of Labor we are seizing this opportunity to empower all workers morning, noon and night – by valuing our nation’s caregiving economy, building a more inclusive workforce, and by ensuring all workers can be healthy and financially secure. By continuing to get people vaccinated, creating good jobs through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Act, and investing in our people through the President’s Build Back Better Agenda, we have a tremendous opportunity this Labor Day to advance equity and prosperity for working people.”