The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) administers and enforces more than 180 federal laws. These mandates and the regulations that implement them cover many workplace activities for about 150 million workers and 10 million workplaces.

Our Mission is to foster, promote, and develop the welfare of the wage earners, job seekers, and retirees of the United States; improve working conditions; advance opportunities for profitable employment; and assure work-related benefits and rights.

Major Laws of the Department of Labor

Following is a brief listing of many of DOL's principal statutes most commonly applicable to businesses, job seekers, workers, retirees, contractors, and grantees. This brief summary is intended to acquaint you with the major labor laws and not to offer a detailed exposition. For authoritative information and references to fuller descriptions of these laws, you should consult the statutes and regulations themselves.

• Wages and Hours
• Workplace Safety and Health
• Workers' Compensation
• Employee Benefit Security
• Unions and their Members
• Employee Protection
• Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act
• Employee Polygraph Protection Act
• Garnishment of Wages
• Family and Medical Leave Act
• Veterans' Preference
• Government Contracts, Grants, or Financial Aid
• Migrant and Seasonal Agricultural Workers
• Mine Safety and Health
• Construction
• Transportation
• Plant Closings and Layoffs