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ESA News Release: [12/01/2005]
Contact Name: Dolline Hatchett or David James
Phone Number: (202) 693-4676 or x4651
Release Number: 05-2250-NAT

U.S. Labor Department Opens New Temporary Wage and Hour Offices In the Gulf Region

Deploys Additional Spanish-Speaking Investigators

WASHINGTON—The U.S. Department of Labor today announced the reopening, at new temporary locations, of the Wage and Hour Division's New Orleans district office and Biloxi, Miss., field office. Following Hurricane Katrina both offices were damaged and closed. The work normally handled out of these offices continued in the aftermath of the hurricane from the Baton Rouge, La., Mobile, Ala., and Hattiesburg, Miss., field offices, as well as the Jackson, Miss., area office.

“We've opened these temporary offices to be closer to the Gulf Coast residents during this rebuilding phase,” said U. S. Labor Secretary Elaine L. Chao. “We've also dispatched more Spanish-speaking investigators in the area, which will boost compliance assistance services and increase enforcement to better protect workers.”

The department has deployed additional resources to the region, including five Spanish-speaking investigators, to provide added enforcement support to handle an increased workload as a result of Hurricane Katrina. Public service announcements are also available to air in the region in both English and Spanish beginning today to increase awareness about the labor laws enforced by the Wage and Hour Division.

The Wage and Hour offices are now located at the following addresses:

Temporary New Orleans District Office

Temporary Biloxi Field Office

The public service announcement can be found at www.dol.gov/opa/media/audio. To obtain further information about laws administered by the Wage and Hour Division visit the agency's Web site at www.wagehour.dol.gov. Information is also available from the DOL toll-free help line at 1-866-4USWAGE (1-866-487-9243).