WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor announced today’s launch of a national online dialogue to gather ideas to improve labor outcomes for women, especially economically disadvantaged women. The dialogue will be open until July 9.

Hosted by the department’s Women’s Bureau, Office of Disability Employment Policy, Employment and Training Administration, Wage and Hour Division and Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs, the dialogue and the input received will help identify strategies for dismantling the systemic barriers to employment and participation in workforce services women face. The dialogue’s themes will include:

• Ensuring equity in the American Jobs Plan.
• Promoting gender equity in the workplace.
• Ensuring equitable access to paid leave.
• Creating safe and welcoming workplaces.
• Adapting to a changing labor market.

“Women’s economic empowerment is central to realizing women’s rights and gender equality. These dialogues seek to understand the barriers that continue to limit the full participation of women in the workplace,” said Women’s Bureau Director Wendy Chun-Hoon. “At the same time, we want to determine how best to provide resources we know lift up women workers and create a more equitable economy. We appreciate our stakeholders weighing in on these important issues.”

The dialogue will also help formulate future programs and funding opportunities that respond to the needs of women from diverse backgrounds. It furthers the government-wide priority for gender equity and equality set forth in President Biden’s Executive Order 14020.

Register to participate in the dialogue.

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a $1.5 million funding opportunity available to all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands to develop partnerships with community-based organizations and other non-profits to conduct outreach to women workers to help them understand and exercise their rights and benefits in the workplace. The fund will support up to six grants.

Administered by the department’s Women’s Bureau and the Employment and Training Administration, the Fostering Access, Rights and Equity grants are designed to help low-wage women workers.

“The pandemic exposed the current system’s failure to protect or serve women workers adequately, especially low-paid women and workers of color,” said Women’s Bureau Director Wendy Chun-Hoon. “The Fostering Access, Rights and Equity partnerships will inform women about their labor rights and benefits. They will also help ensure that women workers share in the prosperity of the nation’s economic recovery.”

Applicants must provide one or more of the following services:

• Providing outreach to vulnerable, low-income and marginalized women workers.
• Disseminating educational materials through varied platforms, including social media, in-person or virtual events, brochures and leaflets, one-on-one consultations and other outreach.
• Assisting women workers with navigating and calculating benefits and connecting and referring women workers to additional services, benefits and/or legal assistance.
• Raising awareness of women’s rights to benefits and assistance in their own communities.

Learn more about FARE grants and how to apply. Contact Andrea Hill at hill.andrea@dol.gov for more information.