On Labor Day, Governor Hochul Highlights Labor and Workforce Accomplishments to Make New York More Affordable and Enhance Worker Protections

In celebration of Labor Day, Governor Kathy Hochul today highlighted key achievements in New York State's mission to support and empower its workforce and protect working New Yorkers. Governor Hochul has worked hard to ensure New York State is a safe, affordable place to live, work, and raise a family. This year, she has successfully strengthened worker protections, enhanced Tier 6 retirement benefits, signed legislation to improve the workers' compensation system, and expanded access to free community college for adult learners in high-growth industries. Additionally, the Governor continues to lead aggressive efforts to combat wage theft and guarantee safe working conditions, delivering on her promise to champion New York's labor force.

"Since day one, my administration has stood shoulder to shoulder with New York's workers," Governor Hochul said. "We have raised the minimum wage, strengthened prevailing wage, cracked down on wage theft, expanded workforce protections, created new pathways to good-paying jobs through workforce training and free community college for adult learners in high-demand fields. This Labor Day, I am proud to celebrate our labor movement as we continue to fight for the people who make New York State stronger, safer and keep us moving forward every day."

As a steadfast ally of organized labor, Governor Hochul remains deeply committed to supporting New York's workforce. Building on the historic achievements of previous years, the Governor has advanced key initiatives to support, protect, and train workers across the state, including:

Strengthening Worker Protections

• Fighting Wage Theft: Under Governor Hochul, NYSDOL can now issue warrants and seize financial assets to enforce unpaid wage theft orders following a judgment. In 2025, NYSDOL recovered more than $35 million in lost wages and collected $2.2 million in penalties from wage theft-related cases, the highest annual amount recovered since 2015. Since Governor Hochul took office in 2021, NYSDOL has recovered more than $145 million for more than 130,000 workers.
• Prevailing Wage: In 2024, NYSDOL established New York State's new Public Work Contractor and Subcontractor Registry. To date, 14,579 certificates of registration have been issued. Additionally, as of this year, contractors and subcontractors working on prevailing wage projects in New York State are now required to submit certified payroll records electronically. These requirements help ensure that workers are paid appropriate wages for the work they are performing. NYSDOL's website now offers a demo video, updated FAQs, and more to help encourage compliance with both the registry and payroll submissions.
• Worker Safety Laws Anniversary: This year marked the first anniversary of three worker safety laws that went into effect in 2025: the Retail Worker Safety Act, the Fashion Workers Act, and the Warehouse Worker Injury Reduction Program. Over the past year, NYSDOL has undertaken extensive proactive outreach efforts, visiting hundreds of retail locations, and engaging with employers and employees to ensure compliance with these enhanced protections for workers statewide.
  • The Retail Worker Safety Act requires retail employers with 10 or more workers statewide to implement interactive training programs about workplace violence, including threats of physical violence, abuse, harassment, and intimidation. Businesses covered by this act with 500 or more employees statewide must provide employees with access to a silent response button by January 1, 2027.
  • The Fashion Workers Act ensures transparency and fair treatment for models and other fashion workers by requiring model management companies and model management groups to comply with additional duties and responsibilities, as well as register with NYSDOL. Since the law was enacted, 79 companies have registered.
  • The Warehouse Injury Reduction Program requires employers covered by the previously enacted Warehouse Worker Protection Act to establish and implement an injury reduction program to identify and reduce the risk of work-related injuries.

Improving Wages and Benefits

• Narrowing the Gender Wage Gap: Under Governor Kathy Hochul, New York State has taken nation-leading steps to close the gender wage gap and create a more equitable labor market, including raising the minimum wage, mandating paid prenatal leave, and this year, prioritizing universal child care for all children under five years old. New York State now has the smallest gender wage gap in the nation-91.4 cents per dollar in 2024, compared to 87.3 cents per dollar in 2023. For more information, visit NYSDOL's annual Gender Wage Gap Report.
• Expanding the Healthy Terminals Act: In January, the expanded Healthy Terminals Act took effect, extending the Act's wage rates and health and leave benefits to part-time workers at John F. Kennedy (JFK) International and LaGuardia airports. The expanded law includes an exemption for small employers with 10 or fewer employees.
• Working Families Hub: This year, NYSDOL launched its Services for Working Families hub, a user-friendly, online site to help families navigate available services for varying stages of life and work. The webpage centralizes resources on New York State policies and benefits, including helpful links to various New York State agency services concerning paid leave and benefits, child care resources, and resources for youth entering the workforce.
• Workers' Compensation Enhancements: Governor Hochul's FY 2027 Budget made changes to workers' compensation to fight fraud and improve access to medical care. Beginning in 2027, the Workers' Compensation Board will administer a new grant-funded program allowing District Attorney offices to dedicate additional resources for prosecuting workers' compensation fraud. Additionally, starting January 2028, all eligible licensed providers in good standing will be able to treat New York's injured workers, significantly increasing injured workers' access to health care.
• Tier 6 Reforms: This year's budget also included reforms to Tier 6, including:
  • Lower retirement ages for educators;
  • Reduced contribution rates and increased overtime caps for state and local workers, including members of the police and fire departments outside of New York City; and
  • Reduced employee contribution rates for UUP and PSC-CUNY members in the Optional Retirement Plan.
• Expanding Opportunities for Employment and Training
  • Registered apprenticeships have expanded to high-demand industries, including health care, information technology, finance, childcare, education, transportation, and advanced manufacturing.
    • As of June 30, 2026, NYSDOL supported almost 18,000 apprentices, more than 600 sponsors, more than 900 programs, and granted more than 1,300 certificates for program completion so far this year.
      • Under Governor Hochul's administration, the state launched the New York Hiring for Emergency Limited Placement Statewide (NY HELPS) Program, which temporarily waives state civil service exam requirements for many job vacancies. More than 64,000 appointments have been made to state and local government as part of the NY HELPS program.
      • The Department of Civil Service is opening new Computer-Based Testing Centers in regions around the state. Additionally, the state created 10 Centers for Careers in Government, offering jobseekers guidance on civil service systems and career opportunities.
      • The Department of Civil Service is developing a new applicant management system for hiring for jobs available to the public, which will bolster and accelerate hiring practices toward matching the most qualified candidates with open positions quickly and equitably.
      • Civil Service ran successful multi-media campaigns over the past two years promoting the wide-ranging career opportunities available in New York State public service, as well as partnered with New York's first Chief Disability Officer to deliver a campaign that highlighted opportunities for New Yorkers with disabilities.
      • The state updated qualifications for approximately 800 entry- and promotion-level civil service titles to allow for consideration of equivalent experience as an alternative to college degrees when evaluating jobseekers.

1. National Apprenticeship Week: New York State is a national leader in providing pathways to successin exciting new careers. Governor Hochul is committed to supporting proven workforce development initiatives, like registered apprenticeships and pre-apprenticeship programs.

2. Providing Free Community College for Adult Learners in High-Demand Fields: Governor Hochul's FY 2026 Budget established free community college for adult learners through the SUNY and CUNY Reconnect program. Community colleges at SUNY and CUNY cover tuition, fees, books, and supplies for adult students ages 25 to 55 with no degree who are pursuing associate degrees in high-demand fields like advanced manufacturing, technology, nursing and education. In this year's budget, the Governor has expanded the list of high-demand fields to include logistics, air traffic control, and to students with prior degrees pursuing a nursing degree. The program is also expanding to Associate Programs at eight SUNY College and at three CUNY Colleges in addition to Community Colleges statewide. More than 12,000 New Yorkers have already enrolled in the program.

3. Modernizing and Digitizing Working Papers: Last year, Governor Hochul signed legislation to modernize the youth employment certification process. Under the Governor's direction, NYSDOL is working hard to create a convenient one-stop online portal that simplifies the process for young workers, their parents and guardians, school districts, and businesses employing minors. The new system is set to launch next year.

4. Implementing several initiatives to strengthen New York's public workforce. Among those are:

Governor Kathy Hochul also announced that 17 landmarks across New York State will be illuminated red, white, and blue in honor of Labor Day. The landmarks to be lit in recognition of Labor Day include:

1. One World Trade Center
2. Governor Mario M. Cuomo Bridge
3. Kosciuszko Bridge
4. The H. Carl McCall SUNY Building
5. State Education Building
6. Alfred E. Smith State Office Building
7. Empire State Plaza
8. State Fairgrounds - Main Gate & Expo Center
9. Niagara Falls
10. The "Franklin D. Roosevelt" Mid-Hudson Bridge
11. Grand Central Terminal - Pershing Square Viaduct
12. Albany International Airport Gateway
13. Lake Placid Olympic Center
14. MTA LIRR - East End Gateway at Penn Station
15. Fairport Lift Bridge over the Erie Canal
16. Moynihan Train Hall
17. Roosevelt Island Lighthouse

New York State Department of Labor Commissioner Roberta Reardon said, "Today, we celebrate the heart and soul of our state-New York's dedicated workforce. As the Commissioner of Labor, I am incredibly proud of the strides we have made under Governor Hochul's leadership to ensure New York State is a safe, affordable place to live, work, and raise a family. Labor Day is a powerful reminder of the important role collective action has played in securing rights for workers, and the New York State Department of Labor will continue to fight for safe workplaces and fair pay."

Department of Civil Service Commissioner and Civil Service Commission President Timothy R. Hogues said, "Since she took office, Governor Hochul's support of the public workforce has been clear and steadfast. Under her leadership, the Department of Civil Service is reducing barriers to entry and promotion for public-service jobseekers and state employees alike. Through NY HELPS, which temporarily waives exams for many government jobs available to the public, to opening new Computer-Based Testing Centers, which boosts access and opportunities for our dedicated state employees who seek career advancement, Governor Hochul understands that a strong public workforce helps New York families on a daily basis and makes the Empire State a great place to live and work."

New York State Workers' Compensation Board Chair Freida D. Foster said, "Labor Day is a reminder that every worker deserves not only recognition for what they contribute, but the assurance that they will be supported when they are injured or unable to work. As we celebrate all those in the workforce, we thank Governor Hochul for the important changes she's helped bring about to improve the New York State workers' compensation system for the benefit of workers and employers alike. Thanks especially, to her "game-changing" Universal Authorization legislation, workers who are injured or become ill on the job will have far more options when it comes to finding a doctor to give them timely treatment and our new anti-fraud program will go a long way in make the workers' compensation system more fair and more affordable for everyone."