U.S. Department of Labor:Raising wages for hundreds of thousands of workers

A new minimum wage increase will benefit hundreds of thousands of federal contractors and their families. U.S. Department of Labor November 24, 2021 Minimum wage increase will benefit hundreds of thousands federal contractors and their families A new rule will increase the minimum wage for federal contractors to $15 per hour starting Jan. 30, 2022. More than 300,000 federal contract workers will get a raise, roughly one-third of whom work in service occupations, which have been hard hit by the pandemic. Watch Secretary of Labor Marty Walsh’s statement. Raising the wage, investing in America and building back better In Birmingham, Alabama, Secretary Walsh joined Rep. Terri Sewell, Mayor Randall Woodfin and workers to discuss how the Biden-Harris administration is creating jobs for America’s workers through policies like the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the Build Back Better Act and the department’s new federal contractor minimum wage final rule. Giving thanks for essential workers This Thanksgiving, we’re thankful for all the workers who have helped keep us safe, fed and moving forward during the pandemic. Join us in honoring these essential workers. Holiday reminder: Workers have rights With retailers expected to hire more than 500,000 seasonal workers this holiday season, we’re reminding employers not to overlook workers’ rights to a safe and healthy workplace and to be paid their legally earned wages. Funding available to support education, skills training and pre-apprenticeship services We’re making $90 million available in YouthBuild program grants to provide occupational skills training, employment services and educational support to youth in communities where inequalities hinder basic academic and career skills development. The opportunity follows our 2021 guidance that prioritizes quality jobs, green building and community violence intervention. Protecting professional caregivers We launched a new initiative to protect professional caregivers’ wages and ensure industry employers comply with the law. IN CASE YOU MISSED IT $2.4 billion recovered We recovered more than $2.4 billion in direct payments to employee benefit plans, participants and beneficiaries in fiscal year 2021. Apprenticeship Ambassadors Secretary Walsh, Vice President Kamala Harris and other government, union and industry leaders announced the launch of the department’s Apprenticeship Ambassador Initiative. Retirement planning We have resources to help you prepare for a secure financial future, including expenses like long-term care. Back wages A New Jersey trucking company must pay 46 drivers $549,209 in back wages after investigators found wage and hour violations. U.S. Department of Labor 200 Constitution Ave NW, Washington, DC 20210 www.dol.gov | 1-866-4USADOL (1-866-487-2365)