About us:

The mission of the California Labor Commissioner's Office is to ensure a just day's pay in every workplace in the State and to promote economic justice through robust enforcement of labor laws. By combating wage theft, protecting workers from retaliation, and educating the public, we put earned wages into workers' pockets and help level the playing field for law-abiding employers.

The Labor Commissioner has the following arms for enforcing labor laws. Most of our positions fall under one of the following units:

Wage Claim Adjudication: Adjudicates wage claims on behalf of workers who file claims for nonpayment of wages, overtime, or vacation pay pursuant to California Labor Code section 98.

Vision: As a national leader in the Wage Claim Adjudication process, the Labor Commissioner's Office enforces the law by setting a standard of fair and expeditious resolution of claims to achieve long-term compliance from the employers of the State of California. By providing education and meaningful enforcement of wage and hour laws, we combat wage theft and ensure that wages earned are put into the pockets of the workers.

Public Works: Investigates and enforces prevailing wages, apprenticeship standards, and related workplace protections on public works construction projects.

Vision: The Public Works Unit effectively combats prevailing wage theft through vigorous labor law enforcement, fosters strong working relationships with stakeholders and robust apprenticeships on public works projects, and provides education to workers, contractors, and awarding bodies to ensure workers who build and maintain the infrastructure of California receive a just day's pay for a hard day's work and law abiding contractors can thrive and compete.

Retaliation Complaint Investigations Unit: The RCI unit investigates complaints alleging unlawful retaliation in the workplace.

Vision: To establish a presence in the minds of those who fight for justice and those who retaliate, the Labor Commissioner's Retaliation Complaint Investigation Unit promptly investigates complaints of retaliation to achieve remedies for the victims and to penalize those who retaliate. Through enforcement and education, the Unit protects and empowers workers to encourage their fight for justice, while deterring employers from engaging in unlawful adverse actions.

 

 

 

 

Bureau of Field Enforcement: Conducts on-site inspections to investigate and enforce compliance with minimum wage and overtime laws on behalf of all affected workers, worker's compensation insurance coverage, child labor, cash pay, unlicensed contractors, and other California labor law standards.

Vision: The Bureau of Field Enforcement (BOFE) combats wage theft, ensuring a just day's pay for employees, leveling the playing field for law-abiding employers, and promoting economic justice by conducting comprehensive, impactful field investigations that encourage worker participation and employer cooperation and put earned wages into workers' pockets. We empower workers to protect their rights in the workplace by working collaboratively with our partners and by enforcing California labor standards to their fullest extent through the powers vested in the Labor Commissioner's Office.

Licensing & Registration: Administers exams, issues and renews permits, licenses, certifications, and registrations to the following industries: Agricultural, Entertainment, Garment, and Car Wash.

Vision: Provides California employers with the highest quality assistance in obtaining their licenses and registrations in the most expeditious manner. Our knowledgeable staff promotes economic justice by providing dependable service with a highly functional and well-designed on-line system to level the playing field for law-abiding employers. We utilize the registration requirements to ensure compliance with all labor laws in licensed industries.

Legal Unit: Labor Commissioner's Office attorneys present civil cases at both the trial and appellate level.

The majority of cases involve issues of unpaid wages that have arisen as a result of an appeal taken from an order, decision, or award of the Labor Commissioner. Labor Commissioner's Office attorneys also pursue cases involving violations of the prevailing wage provisions of the public works laws.

March 2024