DOL Releases Updated Equity Action Plan

The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) recently released an updated version of its Equity Action Plan, with an emphasis on giving more support to underserved communities and workers with limited proficiency of English.

The Equity Action Plan, first released in 2022, is designed to help remove barriers that underserved workers face within and outside the workplace.

Using feedback from public forums and research into the difficulties workers face, the DOL developed five new areas of focus for its revised Equity Action Plan:

• Ensuring underserved communities have access to good jobs
• Improving services for individuals with limited English proficiency
• Supporting workers, including those in the Southeast United States
• Embedding gender equity into our partnerships and services
• Evaluating procurement practices to advance equity, including to support small, disadvantaged businesses such as Black- and women-owned businesses.

“When underserved individuals and communities have access and pathways to good jobs, it boosts productivity, innovation, and economic well-being for everyone.” said Julie Su, Acting Secretary of Labor. “We will continue to use all of our available resources to expand our economy while promoting the economic and social well-being of all workers.”

Offering support for workers of whom English is not their first language has become an important part of ensuring quality and safety within the cleaning industry. For ways to better communicate your thoughts to those with limited English proficiency, check out 3 Presentation Tips for Non-Native English Speakers.

To learn more about the updated Equity Action plan, visit the DOL’s website.