The U.S. Department of Labor launched an opinion letter program that spans five of its enforcement agencies – including the Mine Safety & Health Administration (MSHA).
As part of the program, MSHA will now provide compliance-assistance resources through the new MSHA Information Hub, a centralized platform offering guidance, regulatory updates, training materials and technical support.
As the Labor Department describes, the opinion letter program illustrates its commitment to providing meaningful compliance assistance that helps workers, employers and other stakeholders understand how federal labor laws apply in specific workplace situations.
“Opinion letters are an important tool in ensuring workers and businesses alike have access to clear, practical guidance,” says Keith Sonderling, deputy secretary of labor. “Launching this program is part of our broader effort to empower the public with the information they need to understand and comply with the laws the department enforces.”
Opinion letters provide official written interpretations from the department’s enforcement agencies, explaining how laws apply to specific factual circumstances presented by individuals or organizations. By addressing real-world questions, the Labor Department says opinion letters promote clarity, consistency and transparency in the application of federal labor standards.
To support its effort, the Labor Department launched a webpage at dol.gov/opinion-letters so users can explore past guidance and have an easy way to submit new requests to the appropriate agency.
The Laber Department’s opinion letter program also applies to the Wage & Hour Division, the Occupational Safety & Health Administration, the Employee Benefits Security Administration and Veterans’ Employment & Training Service.
