What is the Department of Labor?: The Department of Labor is comprised of the following:
- The Employee Benefits Security Administration (ESA) is the largest agency in the Dept. of Labor. It enforces and administers child labor laws, workers’ compensation and minimum wage.
- The Employment and Training Administration (ETA) provides job training programs through state and local agencies.
- The Occupational Safety and Health Administration, commonly referred to as OSHA, enforces workplace safety standards.
- The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) provides statistics on the labor force.
What the Department of Labor Does: The Department of Labor endeavors to provide a productive workforce for the U.S. economy. It creates an attractive work environment by enforcing labor and pension laws. It measures the performance of the labor force by providing important statistics such as unemployment, wages and consumer spending.
How the Department of Labor Affects the U.S. Economy: It increases the productivity of businesses, thereby increasing competitiveness and the growth of the economy.
How the Department of Labor Affects You: It protects your rights as a worker.
