Labor rights and the power of collaboration

Too many workers in the United States aren't aware of their rights or are afraid to speak up for them for fear of losing their jobs or being deported. This matters not just for the individual workers and their families, who deserve a safe workplace and a fair day's pay, but for all of the law-abiding employers who are undercut by unscrupulous ones.

The Biden-Harris administration is committed to empowering workers and promoting their ability to exercise their rights at work, and to making sure employers understand their responsibilities. That's why we're getting the word out during Labor Rights Week 2024, Aug. 26-30, that ALL workers in the United States have labor rights. These protections apply to everyone, regardless of immigration status.

Held every year just ahead of Labor Day, Labor Rights Week is a time the U.S. Department of Labor joins with the Mexican Embassy and its consulates; other foreign embassies, including those of Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador and the Dominican Republic; community and faith-based organizations; and federal and state government partners to promote fundamental labor rights. This year's theme is "Rights, Health and Safety for Workers: The Power of Collaboration," reflecting just how essential it is that we collaborate with partners who have the trust of the workers we seek to serve - especially as workers face hot work environments and other potentially deadly hazards.

EMPLEO is a great example of one such partnership; working together with consulates, nonprofits and other government agencies, we have been able to recover more than $15 million in back wages for nearly 15,000 workers over the past 20 years. This year is also the 20th anniversary of the Consular Partnership Program, which is coordinated by the department's Bureau of International Labor Affairs and involves our Occupational Safety and Health Administration, the Wage and Hour Division, and other agencies. Staff from our field offices work with local consulates and many other partners to make sure people working in the U.S. understand their rights and employers have the knowledge they need to comply with labor laws.

Want to get involved? One of the best ways is to join outreach events in your area. Here are some online resources to explore and share:

• MigrantWorker.gov: We're committed to making information more accessible. Available in eight languages - Arabic, Chinese (Simplified), English, Haitian Creole, Portuguese, Spanish, Tagalog and Vietnamese - our new website empowers workers with knowledge about issues from wages and safety to visas and retaliation.
• Workers Owed Wages: If we investigate a workplace and find that workers have not been paid all the wages they are owed, we can recover those wages. That money is held for three years while we try to locate workers. After three years, we are required to send the money to the U.S. Treasury. Search Workers Owed Wages - available in English and Spanish - to see if you or someone you know has wages we collected so they can claim and receive that money.
• Labor Rights Week messaging guide: These messages in English and Spanish will help inform workers about critical workplace protections, from staying safe in the heat to addressing threats of retaliation.

For any questions or help with rights at work, including how to file a complaint, call us at 1-866-487-2365. Our staff can provide assistance in many languages.

We collaborate all year long with our partners to advance equity and justice for working people. Please join us during Labor Rights Week to get the word out in your community on workers' rights!

Julie Su is the acting secretary of labor.