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Shortly after the Civil War, William Sylvis, the most important labor leader of his day, advocated the creation of a Department of Labor to protect workers. Between 1864 and 1900, more than 100 bills and resolutions relating to a Department of Labor were introduced in Congress. However, it wasn’t until March 4, 1913, in the waning hours of his presidency, that William H. Taft signed a law creating the U.S. Department of Labor.
The Department of Labor’s laws and the regulations that implement them cover workplace activities for about 10 million employers and 125 million workers.
The mission of the Department of Labor is to foster and promote the welfare of the job seekers, wage earners, and retirees of the United States by:
In carrying out this mission, the Department administers and enforces over 180 federal labor laws including those that guarantee workers’ rights to safe and healthful working conditions; a minimum hourly wage and overtime pay; freedom from employment discrimination; unemployment insurance; and other income support.
The Secretary of Labor oversees the Department comprised of multiple administrations and agencies.
Laws and regulations administered by the Department of Labor. The following information provides a brief description of many of the principal statutes which commonly apply to businesses. It is not all-inclusive. For authoritative information on these laws, consult the statutes and regulations themselves.
Administration and enforcement of these laws are by the Wage and Hour Division. ESA’s Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) administers and enforces three federal contract-based civil rights laws that require most federal contractors and subcontractors, as well as federally assisted construction contractors, to provide equal employment opportunity.