Information contained in this publication is intended for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice or opinion, nor is it a substitute for the professional judgment of an attorney.
The Center for American Progress Action Fund, a powerful, pro-labor think tank, recently released a report criticizing the Department of Labor (DOL) for failing to enforce worker protection laws, and outlining ways in which the incoming administration can implement changes in an expedited manner without resorting to legislation or lengthy rule-making. The report, Five Strategies for the Obama Administration to Enforce Workers’ Rights at the Department of Labor, details five methods for revamping the DOL immediately. These recommendations include:
- Using increased civil and criminal employer penalties to create a culture of accountability;
- Increasing enforcement staff and using partnerships with community organizations, industry associations, state worker-protection agencies, and labor unions to assist under-funded enforcement divisions with industry monitoring;
- Targeting high-violation sectors with strategic initiatives;
- Using thorough record-keeping to drive enforcement priorities, enhance public accountability, and improved performance evaluation; and
- Strengthening immigrant protections to improve job quality for all workers.
It is expected that these recommendations will be taken seriously by the next administration. John Podesta, former White House Chief of Staff to President Clinton and Co-Chair of Obama’s transition team, is the Founder and President of the Center for American Progress. As a high-ranking member of the transition team, Podesta will be instrumental in selecting the next Secretary of the DOL, as well as filling other critical vacancies in this agency. In fact, it would not be at all surprising if one or more such vacancies were filled by a member or affiliate of this think tank. For example, Tom Daschle – who was recently named as the next Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services – is a Distinguished Senior Fellow of the Center for American Progress. Thus, expect the new leaders at the DOL – who could be mined from the think tank itself – to give serious consideration and possibly fully implement one or more of these strategies.