Workforce Leaders Warn DOL Guidance Encourages States to Evade Worker Protections

Workforce Leaders Warn DOL Guidance Encourages States to Evade Worker Protections

WASHINGTON - Today, House workforce leaders wrote to Secretary of Labor Lori Chavez-DeRemer raising serious concerns about the Department of Labor's (DOL) recent Training and Employment Guidance Letter (TEGL). DOL's new guidance encourages states to waive requirements under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA).

The letter was sent by Ranking Member Robert C. "Bobby" Scott (VA-03), House Committee on Education and Workforce, and Ranking Member Alma S. Adams (NC-12), Subcommittee on Higher Education and Workforce Development.

Specifically, the Ranking Members warn that the guidance exceeds the Department's authority to grant waiver requests by allowing states to bypass key Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) requirements that protect workers with barriers to employment, including older workers, individuals with disabilities, and people experiencing homelessness. The Ranking Members also raised concerns that some states' waivers could eliminate local control of workforce funds.

"One of the key purposes of WIOA…is to increase access to employment, education training, and support services for individuals with barriers to employment, such as homeless individuals, older workers and persons with disabilities," the Ranking Members wrote. "Many of the suggested waivers articulated in the TEGL would allow states to reduce their efforts to serve individuals with barriers to employment, directly contradicting WIOA's purpose."

The Ranking Members conclude, "Just because…waivers have been approved by DOL in the past does not make them legal; it simply means they have never been challenged in a court."

Scott and Adams called on DOL to immediately revoke the guidance and pursue changes through bipartisan legislation.

Revoking this waiver is particularly important given a new report released last month from the Government Accountability Office (GAO) details that, despite significant progress made towards accessibility, many individuals with disabilities still face barriers to receiving job training services.

To read the full letter, click here.

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