Agreement Focused on Outreach & Education, Investigations and Training
The Hawaii State Department of Labor & Industrial Relations (DLIR) today announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the United States Department of Labor’s (U.S. DOL) Wage and Hour Division. Recognizing the value of collaborative relationships to promote compliance with wage and hour laws, the MOU facilitates more effective and efficient communication and cooperation in areas of common interest, including sharing training materials, conducting joint investigations and outreach, and information sharing.
“This partnership agreement allows us to expand and improve the protection of Hawaii’s workforce and enforcement of wage laws,” said Scott Murakami, DLIR Director. “The agreement also strengthens the enforcement of a level playing field for employers while maximizing taxpayer resources.”
(left to right) Labor Partners to serve the State of Hawaii: DLIR – Wage Standards Division Compliance Branch Chief Wesley Lum, WHD – Assistant District Director Min Kirk, WHD – District Director Terence Trotter, WHD Western Regional Deputy Administrator Richard Longo, DLIR Director Scott Murakami, WHD – Western Regional Administrator Ruben Rosalez, DLIR Deputy Director Leonard Hoshijo, WHD – Community Outreach Specialist Herbert Lee, and DLIR – Wage Standards Division Administrator Pamela Martin.
The agreement provides for the following:
Outreach and Investigation The agencies agree to conduct joint outreach presentations, prepare and distribute publications, and jointly disseminate outreach materials to the regulated community.
Enforcement The agencies may coordinate enforcement activities, conduct joint investigations, and make referrals of potential violations of State and Federal law.
Information The agencies will establish a methodology for exchanging investigative leads, complaints and referrals of possible violations as well as exchanging statistical data on violations in specific industries and geographic areas.
Training The agencies agree to cross train investigators and other staff to educate staff members about the laws and regulations enforced by both, exchange information related to policy and regulatory changes, and to maintain dialogue about issues of mutual concern
The U.S. DOL enforces the Federal minimum wage, overtime pay, recordkeeping, and child labor requirements of the Fair Labor Standards Act. The DLIR enforces related Hawaii laws covering minimum wage and overtime, unpaid and timely payment of wages, child labor, and Hawaii Family Leave laws, among others.