Code of Federal Regulations Title 29 - Labor
Code of Federal Regulations Title 29 - Labor
Title 29 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), titled "Labor," is a vast and critical collection of regulations issued by various federal agencies regarding employment, labor practices, wages, workplace safety and health, employee benefits, and related matters in the United States. Its primary purpose is to implement and enforce federal laws designed to protect the rights and welfare of workers, ensure fair labor practices, and maintain safe working environments.
Key Federal Agencies Responsible for Enforcing Title 29 CFR:
Several agencies within the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) are responsible for different parts of Title 29, along with a few independent agencies. The most prominent include:
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), DOL: Responsible for workplace safety and health standards.
Wage and Hour Division (WHD), DOL: Responsible for enforcing federal minimum wage, overtime pay, recordkeeping, and child labor requirements.
Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA), DOL: Responsible for enforcing the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA), which protects the integrity of retirement and health plans.
Office of Labor-Management Standards (OLMS), DOL: Responsible for enforcing parts of the Labor-Management Reporting and Disclosure Act (LMRDA), ensuring transparency and democratic practices in labor unions.
Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP), DOL: Responsible for enforcing Executive Order 11246 and other laws that prohibit discrimination and require affirmative action by federal contractors.
Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC): An independent agency responsible for enforcing federal laws that make it illegal to discriminate against a job applicant or an employee.
National Labor Relations Board (NLRB): An independent agency responsible for enforcing the National Labor Relations Act, which governs relations between unions and employers.
Federal Mine Safety and Health Review Commission: An independent agency that reviews administrative law judges' decisions arising under the Mine Safety and Health Act.
Structure and Key Areas within Title 29 CFR:
Title 29 is organized into numerous chapters, with each chapter generally corresponding to a specific agency or major program. Here's an overview of some of the most significant areas:
I. Office of the Secretary of Labor (DOL) (Parts 0-99)
Part 1: Procedures for Predetermination of Wage Rates: Rules for determining prevailing wages on federal construction projects (Davis-Bacon Act).
Part 3: Contractors and Subcontractors on Public Building or Public Work: Wage payment requirements for federally funded or assisted construction.
Part 4: Labor Standards for Federal Service Contracts: Rules for wages and benefits on federal service contracts (Service Contract Act).
Part 5: Labor Standards Provisions Applicable to Contracts Covering Federally Financed and Assisted Construction: General labor standards provisions for federal construction and non-construction contracts.
Part 29: Labor Standards for the Registration of Apprenticeship Programs: Rules for apprenticeship programs recognized by the DOL.
Part 30: Equal Employment Opportunity in Apprenticeship: Prohibits discrimination in registered apprenticeship programs.
Parts 31-38: Nondiscrimination: Rules implementing various civil rights laws in programs receiving federal financial assistance from the DOL, covering discrimination based on race, color, national origin, handicap, age, and sex.
II. Wage and Hour Division, Department of Labor (Parts 500-899)
Part 500: Migrant and Seasonal Agricultural Worker Protection Act: Protections for agricultural workers.
Part 503: Enforcement of the Immigration and Nationality Act Provisions Relating to H-2A Nonimmigrant Temporary Agricultural Workers: Regulations for the H-2A visa program.
Part 504: Enforcement of the Immigration and Nationality Act Provisions Relating to H-2B Nonimmigrant Temporary Non-Agricultural Workers: Regulations for the H-2B visa program.
Part 541: Defining and Delimiting the Exemptions for Executive, Administrative, Professional, Computer and Outside Sales Employees: Rules on which employees are exempt from minimum wage and overtime requirements under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).
Part 778: Overtime Compensation: Detailed interpretations of overtime pay requirements under the FLSA.
Part 779: The Fair Labor Standards Act as Applied to Retailers of Goods or Services: FLSA application to retail and service establishments.
Part 785: Hours Worked: Defines compensable hours under the FLSA.
Part 791: Joint Employment Relationship Under the Fair Labor Standards Act: Clarifies when two or more employers are jointly responsible for FLSA compliance.
Part 825: The Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993 (FMLA): Regulations implementing the FMLA, which provides eligible employees with job-protected leave for family and medical reasons.
III. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), Department of Labor (Parts 1900-1999)
Part 1903: Inspections, Citations, and Proposed Penalties: OSHA's enforcement procedures.
Part 1904: Recording and Reporting Occupational Injuries and Illnesses: Requirements for employers to keep records of workplace injuries and illnesses.
Part 1910: Occupational Safety and Health Standards (General Industry): A massive chapter containing thousands of specific safety and health standards applicable to most workplaces (e.g., fall protection, lockout/tagout, confined spaces, hazardous communication, personal protective equipment).
Part 1915: Occupational Safety and Health Standards for Shipyard Employment: Specific standards for shipyards.
Part 1917: Marine Terminals: Safety standards for marine terminal operations.
Part 1918: Safety and Health Regulations for Longshoring: Safety standards for longshoring operations.
Part 1926: Safety and Health Regulations for Construction: Comprehensive safety and health standards for the construction industry.
Part 1928: Occupational Safety and Health Standards for Agriculture: Specific safety and health standards for agricultural operations.
Parts 1977-1989: Procedures for the Handling of Retaliation Complaints: Whistleblower protection rules under various acts enforced by OSHA.
IV. Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA), Department of Labor (Parts 2500-2599)
Part 2509: Interpretive Bulletins Relating to the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974: EBSA's official interpretations of ERISA.
Part 2510: Definition of Terms for Purposes of Titles I and III of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974: Key definitions for ERISA.
Part 2520: Rules and Regulations for Reporting and Disclosure: Requirements for pension and welfare benefit plans to report and disclose information to participants, beneficiaries, and the government.
Part 2550: Rules and Regulations for Fiduciary Responsibility: Standards of conduct for fiduciaries of employee benefit plans.
Part 2560: Rules and Regulations for Administrative Enforcement: EBSA's procedures for investigating and enforcing ERISA.
Part 2570: Procedural Regulations Under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act: Rules for administrative hearings and appeals.
V. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) (Parts 1600-1699)
Part 1601: Procedural Regulations: How the EEOC processes charges of discrimination.
Part 1604: Guidelines on Discrimination Because of Sex: Interpretations of Title VII regarding sex discrimination.
Part 1605: Guidelines on Discrimination Because of Religion: Interpretations of Title VII regarding religious discrimination.
Part 1606: Guidelines on Discrimination Because of National Origin: Interpretations of Title VII regarding national origin discrimination.
Part 1607: Uniform Guidelines on Employee Selection Procedures: Standards for employers to ensure selection procedures (e.g., tests) do not discriminate.
Part 1620: The Equal Pay Act: Interpretations and enforcement of the Equal Pay Act.
Part 1625: Age Discrimination in Employment Act: Interpretations and enforcement of the ADEA.
Part 1630: Regulations to Implement the Equal Employment Provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act: Comprehensive regulations for ADA employment provisions.
Title 29 CFR is continuously updated to reflect new legislation, court decisions, and policy changes. It is an essential resource for employers, employees, labor unions, legal professionals, and anyone involved in the U.S. labor market.
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