Wage and Hour Division (WHD)

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PALISADES PARK, N.J. -- The U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division (WHD) and the New Jersey Sate Law Enforcement Asian-American Advisory Committee (NJSLEAAAC) will formalize their partnership to help Asian-American employers and workers understand and comply with federal workplace requirements, including minimum wage, overtime and family medical leave.

"This partnership continues the important work we've been doing in the Asian-American community and affords us a wonderful opportunity to bridge the gap often caused by cultural and language barriers," said Labor Secretary Elaine Chao. "We look forward to working with NJSLEAAAC to help ensure that Asian-American employers and workers are aware of and understand federal workplace laws."

The two organizations will sign a partnership agreement on Mon., Oct. 4, 2004, at 11:30 a.m. at the Advisory Committee's headquarters, located at 280 Broad Avenue Suite 205, Palisades Park, NJ.

NJSLEAAAC is a nonprofit organization that promotes a mutual understanding between New Jersey's Asian-American community and all state and federal law enforcement agencies as well as facilitates interaction and awareness of the special needs of the Asian American community.

The partnership was developed from the department's ongoing efforts to assist businesses in the Asian-American community under a program entitled Operation COACH (Compliance Outreach to the Asian Community and Hispanics). A major goal of this partnership is to provide Asian-American business owners, not fluent in the English language, with easy access to the information about the laws administered by the U.S. Department of Labor, including the Fair Labor Standards Act, the Occupational Safety and Health Act, and Executive Order 11246, which prohibits federal contractors from any type of discrimination. To achieve this goal, both organizations will hold educational programs on federal regulations, such as child labor, minimum wage and overtime.

The Wage and Hour Division is responsible for administering and enforcing some of our nation's most comprehensive labor laws such as minimum wage, overtime, child labor. For more information on federal pay requirements or other provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act, visit the agency's website at www.wagehour.dol.gov or call the Department of Labor's toll-free help line at 1-866-4USWAGE (1-866-487-9243). For more information about the alliance, call 201-592-0107.

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U.S. Department of Labor releases are accessible on the Internet at www.dol.gov. The information in this news release will be made available in alternate format (large print, Braille, audio tape or disc) from the COAST office upon request. Please specify which news release when placing your request at (202) 693-7828 or TTY (202) 693-7755. The Labor Department is committed to providing America’s employers and employees with easy access to understandable information on how to comply with its laws and regulations. For more information, please visit www.dol.gov/compliance.