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The California Department of Industrial Relations (DIR) establishes labor laws regarding wages, hours of work, and conditions of employment. There are two divisions under the DIR: the Division of Labor Standards Enforcement and the Industrial Welfare Commission.
Division of Labor Standards Enforcement
The Division of Labor Standards Enforcement provides wage claim adjudication and discrimination complaint investigations. The Division enforces California's labor laws and Industrial Welfare Commission orders. It also registers garment manufacturers and issues licenses to farm labor contractors, talent agencies, and industrial homeworkers, and it certifies studio teachers.
Industrial Welfare Commission (IWC)
The California Legislature de-funded the Industrial Welfare Commission (IWC), effective July 1, 2004. However, the IWC wage orders, which govern wages, hours, and working conditions in California, are still in effect and must be posted by all employers in an area frequented by employees, where they may be easily read during the workday.
The IWC wage orders determine the wages paid to employees and establish the hours and conditions of labor and employment.
State Child Labor Laws: Regulations govern the registration of employers, transporters, and supervisors of minors, under the age of 16, engaged in door-to-door sales more than ten miles from the minor’s residence.
The California child labor requirements can be found in Title 8, Chapter 6, Subchapters 1, 2, and 2.5 of the California Code of Regulations
State Minimum Wage:
The California minimum wage is/was as follows:
- $15.50, effective January 1, 2023
- $16.00, effective January 1, 2024
- $16.50, effective January 1, 2025
- $16.90, effective January 1, 2026
Some municipalities, including San Diego and San Francisco, have established minimum wage rates as well.
The California minimum wage requirements can be found in Title 8, Chapter 5, Group 1, Article 1, Section 11000 of the California Code of Regulations
Overtime: Premium pay is required after 8 hours daily (double time if over 12 hours) and 40 hours weekly (7th day: first 8 hours at time and half and over eight hours at double time).
Requirements for overtime compensation in various industries and occupations can be found in Title 8, Chapter 5, Group 2 of the California Code of Regulations
State Prevailing Wage: $1,000 is set as the threshold amount for contract coverage under the state prevailing wage requirements.
California prevailing wage requirements can be found in Title 8, Chapter 8, Subchapter 4 of the California Code of Regulations
Contact information
- The California Department of Industrial Relations
Division of Labor Standards Enforcement
455 Golden Gate Ave., 10th floor
San Francisco, CA 94102
Phone: 415-703-5300
Website: www.dir.ca.gov/dlse/dlse.html