About DLSE

The mission of the Division of Labor Standards Enforcement (DLSE) is to vigorously enforce minimum labor standards in order to ensure employees are not required or permitted to work under substandard unlawful conditions, and to protect employers who comply with the law from those who attempt to gain competitive advantage at the expense of their workers by failing to comply with minimum labor standards.

Office of the Labor Commissioner

The Labor Commissioner is appointed by the Governor to serve as Chief of DLSE.

DLSE adjudicates wage claims, investigates discrimination and public works complaints, and enforces labor law and the Industrial Welfare Commission wage orders. To ensure that minimum labor standards are adequately enforced, DLSE has established the following units:

Wage Claim Adjudication

Adjudicates wage claims on the behalf of workers who file claims for nonpayment of wages, overtime, or vacation pay pursuant to California Labor Code Sections 96 and 98. DLSE deputies hold informal conferences between employers and employees to resolve wage disputes. If a matter cannot be resolved at the informal conference, an administrative hearing is held to make a final determination on the matter.

Retaliation Unit

Investigates complaints alleging discriminatory retaliation in the workplace on the basis of various Labor Code sections.

Bureau of Field Enforcement (BOFE)

BOFE is responsible for investigation and enforcement of statutes covering workers' compensation insurance coverage, child labor, cash pay, unlicensed contractors, Industrial Welfare Commission orders, as well as group claims involving minimum wage and overtime claims. BOFE also handles criminal investigations involving these group claims.

Public Works Unit

Investigates and enforces application of appropriate prevailing wage rates for public works construction projects.

Economic and Employment Enforcement Coalition (EEEC)

A partnership of state and federal agencies, each expert in their own field, collaborating for vigorous and targeted enforcement against unscrupulous businesses participating in the "underground economy" historically abusing the workforce in the garment manufacturing, janitorial, agriculture, car wash, construction, race track and restaurant industries.

Licensing and Registration

Issues licenses to farm labor contractors, talent agents, employers, transporters and supervisors of minors involved in door-to-door sales, and industrial homeworkers. Registers garment manufacturers, certifies studio teachers, and approves permits for the payment of less than the minimum wage to employees with a disability and to sheltered workshops. Verifies farm labor contractor licenses.

Legal

DLSE's attorneys present civil cases at both the trial and appellate level. The majority of cases involve issues of unpaid wages that have arisen as a result of an appeal taken from an order, decision, or award of the Labor Commissioner. DLSE attorneys also pursue cases involving violations of the prevailing wage provisions of the public works laws.

Contact us

To find the Division of Labor Standards Enforcement (DLSE) office closest to the city/location/community where you performed work, click here for an alphabetical listing of cities/locations/communities.

District offices

Telephone contact

If you cannot find the DLSE information you are looking for on this website, DLSE staff are available to assist you over the telephone. For general questions, please call the DLSE office nearest your location. Call volumes may be high, and it may take awhile for your call to go through and/or be answered. If you are calling about a specific case, please call the deputy handling that case.

Labor Commissioner adds new phone lines to answer frequent public questions
Minimum wage hotline (888) ASK-WAGE (275-9243)

DLSE regulations notification

If you would like to be notified of new DLSE regulations, please send your contact information to Alison Breen at abreen@dir.ca.gov. Please include in your email your name, organization, address, phone number, email address (if appropriate) and any pertinent information such as a particular subject matter you may be interested in and preferred method of contact. Please Note: Pursuant to Government Code section 11340.85(b)(3), by including your e-mail address, you are expressly authorizing us to send you notices via e-mail.

Industrial Welfare Commission wage orders (IWC orders)

A request for a legal opinion must be submitted by letter to the Chief Counsel of the Labor Commissioner and must contain a statement that there is no California decision or prior DLSE opinion on point and that you have actively researched the subject matter on the DLSE website, including the DLSE Enforcement Policies and Interpretations Manual found on the website. The request must also contain a statement that the opinion is not sought in connection with anticipated or pending private litigation concerning the issue addressed in the request nor is the opinion sought in connection with an investigation or litigation between a client or firm and the Division of Labor Standards Enforcement.

All such requests for a legal opinion which comply with the above requirements should be submitted to:

Chief Counsel
Division of Labor Standards Enforcement
P. O. Box 420603
San Francisco, CA 94142

Labor Code Private Attorneys General Act of 2004

Written notices that are required under the Labor Code Private Attorneys General Act of 2004 to be sent to the Labor and Workforce Development Agency are to be sent by certified mail to the following address:

Labor and Workforce Development Agency
801 K Street, Suite 2101
Sacramento, CA 95814