Department of Labor

A photo of a construction worker seeking shelter from the sun.

U.S. Department of Labor searches for North Carolinians owed $2.5 million in unclaimed money

4:05pm December 14, 2023

The U.S. Department of Labor is searching for more than 3,000 North Carolinians, including 51 in Winston-Salem and 40 in Greensboro, who are owed recovered wages.

A worker harvests cherries in the early hours of the morning on a farm near Sunnyside, Wash., on June 14.

Politics & Government

America's farms are desperate for labor. Foreign workers bring relief and controversy

5:28am July 27, 2023

The number of H-2A visas for seasonal farmworkers issued each year has more than quadrupled over the past decade. The growth has alarmed labor advocates. Farmers don't love the program, either.

Queue Listen Now

Child labor violations had been declining for years. They started creeping up again after 2015, a trend that troubles experts.

National

Child labor violations are on the rise as some states look to loosen their rules

7:05am February 26, 2023

by Kaitlyn Radde

The total number of violations is still much lower than it was two decades ago. But violations have more than tripled since 2015, a trend that has experts troubled.

A colored X-ray of the lungs of a patient with silicosis, a type of pneumoconiosis. The yellow grainy masses in the lungs are areas of scarred tissue and inflammation.

Health & Safety

Lawmakers Seek Protections For Workers Against Lung Damage Tied To Making Countertops

5:19pm October 07, 2019

by Nell Greenfieldboyce

In a letter, they urge the Labor Department to ensure safe levels of silica dust at workplaces that cut popular "engineered stone." At least 18 workers have recently suffered severe lung damage.

Daily News

Feds: Biltmore Estate Violated Labor Laws

11:14am July 19, 2019

by Associated Press

Federal authorities have fined the Biltmore Estate in Asheville for violating federal labor laws.

Some States Defy U.S. Rules Denying Unemployment To Unpaid Federal Workers

7:53am January 19, 2019

by Ben Adler

The Department of Labor says that 450,000 "essential" employees are not eligible for the benefits. California Gov. Gavin Newsom is among those saying "we're gonna do it, and shame on them."

Attorneys, from left, David Seligman, Nina DiSalvo and Alexander Hood of Denver's Towards Justice, which filed a lawsuit on behalf of au pairs for higher pay.

National

Au Pair Sponsor Agencies Settle Wage Lawsuit, Offer $65.5 Million In Back Pay

11:01pm January 09, 2019

by Vanessa Romo

The complaint alleged 15 companies, who at the time controlled 100 percent of the au pair workforce, colluded to keep wages artificially low and denied the workers overtime pay.

Andrew Puzder, chief executive of CKE Restaurants, exits after his meeting with President-elect Donald Trump at Trump International Golf Club in Bedminster, N.J., last year.

Labor Nominee Says He Will Divest Portfolio And Forfeit Unvested Shares

9:02am February 09, 2017

by Mark Katkov

Andrew Puzder's confirmation hearing for labor secretary has been repeatedly delayed as he worked to meet ethics standards regarding divestiture of his assets.

National

Labor Report Urges Study Of A Federal Role In State Workers' Comp Laws

1:15pm October 05, 2016

The Department of Labor is calling for an "exploration" of federal oversight of state workers' compensation laws because of "inadequacies of the system," leaving workers with "limited benefits."

Administration Aims To Fight Crime With Job Training

9:50am September 20, 2016

The Labor Department is handing out $5 million in grants to fund job centers for people coming out of jail. The program is part of a broader effort to reduce recidivism.