About the Division of Labor & Worker Safety
Responsibility and Mission
The Division of Labor & Worker Safety (LAWS) is the division of the Ohio Department
of Commerce which administers and enforces Ohio's Minimum Wage Laws (ORC 4111),
Ohio's Minor Labor Law (ORC 4109), and Ohio's Prevailing Wage Law (ORC 4115).
The Division’s staff conducts routine inspections of workplaces throughout the State.
They provide information on the areas they enforce, ensure compliance with the labor
laws, investigate complaints, and consult with both employers and employees.
The Division assists the public in understanding their rights and responsibilities
under the wage and hour laws of the State and pursues reported violations of those
laws. They also: disseminate prevailing wage information; coordinate the activities
of the field staff; standardize enforcement procedures; and interpret the rules
and regulations.
Making the Turn in Turn Around Ohio
The Division understands the Governor’s Turn Around Ohio plan and the Leadership
Agenda as referenced in the Accountable Government Act documentation. It can make
a direct and positive impact on the Governor’s Leadership Agenda, especially with
the goal to “raise Ohio’s per capita income rate above the national average by 2010”.
By ensuring fair, timely, and accurate review and enforcement of prevailing wage,
minimum wage, and minor labor cases; LAWS can assist Ohio’s citizens in ensuring
that they receive all the income that they have earned and are due under the law.
The Division will contribute to the Governor’s goal of ”by 2017, increase the number
of Ohioans enrolled in post-secondary education by 230,00 and raise Ohio’s success
rate by increasing the number of those who graduate with a 2- or 4-year degree by
20 per cent”. To do so, the Division will continue to enforce minor labor laws and
support secondary education with its Minor Work Permit Program; which assists schools
in maintaining a balance between work and education for students under the age of
18.
LAWS will maintain accountability within the Division to ensure all operations are
efficient and effective. The Division’s objectives, projects, and activities will
be in-line with agency priorities. Those priorities include efforts to:
- “commit to fair and efficient regulations that protects consumers without overburdening
business”;
- “improve response time to customer’s needs across the regulated industries”
Major Objectives
The Division of Labor & Worker Safety has several main objectives. They are:
- Efficiently pursue, enforce, and ensure compliance with the State’s minimum, minor
and prevailing wage labor laws and properly investigate all complaints that it receives.
- Provide readily available information, consult with both employers and employees,
and educate the public on the areas the laws it enforces.
- Clearly and concisely interpret the rules and regulations associated with the State’s
minimum, minor and prevailing wage labor laws.
- Conduct inspections of workplaces, investigations, and hearings in a professional
and fact finding manner.
- Accurately and efficiently disseminate prevailing wage information to all those
that require it.