Acting Secretary Julie Su

Today, my tenure as Acting Secretary of Labor will come to an end. I am so proud of the work we have done.

To the Department of Labor and the American people—thank you for your trust in me and for your dedication to this country.

-JAS

To my incredible U.S. Department of Labor staff:

Together, we wielded the power of this Department to advance justice for workers across America. To have stood alongside you has been an honor I will not forget. Carry on, boldly and unapologetically. – JAS

A top priority for the U.S. Department of Labor under this administration has been holding companies accountable that profit from child labor. Major settlements this week with JBS, Perdue Farms and QSI will provide millions in restitution to the victims and help prevent harm going forward.

We’ve entered into an agreement with JBS USA Food Co. (JBS USA) in which the company will provide $4 million to help individuals and communities affected by unlawful child labor practices nationwide. The agreement commits JBS to holding key elements of its supply chain, third-party contractors and service providers accountable for illegal child labor. They are also creating a targeted advertising campaign to raise awareness about unlawful child labor practices.

JBS will fund $4 million towards preventing illegal child labor and supporting victims of child labor nationwide while prioritizing its efforts in the communities of Guntersville, Alabama; Greeley, Colorado; Ottumwa, Iowa; Worthington, Minnesota; and Grand Island, Nebraska. The funds may provide direct assistance to affected individuals and community organizations in the form of scholarships, stipends and educational aid including assistance to community organizations to fund English as a Second Language teaching positions, literacy, job training and housing.

Since 2022, the department has investigated various third-party contractors that provide sanitation services at meat packing establishments and service providers of poultry catching operations across the U.S. These investigations discovered that JBS’s third-party service providers employed children in dangerous jobs and during overnight shifts at the company’s facilities in Colorado, Iowa, Minnesota and Nebraska.

In fiscal year 2024, department investigators found more than 4,000 children had been employed in violation of federal child labor laws. The division continues to prioritize protecting children and currently has over 1,000 open child labor investigations.

Workers and employers can call the division confidentially with questions and the division can speak with callers in more than 200 languages at its toll-free helpline, 866-4US-WAGE (487-9243).

When President Biden nominated me for this position, I said to all workers toiling in the shadows, who feel invisible & forgotten, who are organizing for power & respect in the workplace, we see you, we stand with you, and we will fight for you. Every day since then, my team and I have strived to make good on that promise.

Sixty years ago, my mom came to the United States on a cargo ship because she couldn’t afford a passenger ticket. In 2023, she got a call from the President of the United States telling her I was going to be his nominee for U.S. Labor Secretary.

I believe in the transformative power of America. And I know the transformative power of a good job. I know because it was that kind of job for my mom—a job with predictable hours, paid sick days, health benefits, a secure income, and a pension in retirement—a UNION job—that gave our family the kind of breathing room the President talks about.

We have never had a President who has made workers, worker well-being, and worker power so central to his vision of a strong economy and a strong nation. The impact of this is yet to be fully felt and the story yet to be fully told.

We can build an economy where every worker is valued, a nation where no one feels invisible. It’s been an honor to work for that vision.

Today’s shows that the Biden-Harris Administration did exactly what it said it would do: recover from the pandemic stronger than ever.

✅At 4.1%, unemployment remains at historically low levels
✅256,000 jobs added
✅16.6 million jobs created since took office

With pride, we hand the next administration an economy and a labor market that are strong and resilient, with opportunities for workers at their core.

I hope everyone had a great weekend!

It's the last Friday of the year! Take some time to reflect, reset and rejuvenate.

2025 will be here before you know it!

Happy Kwanzaa from the U.S. Department of Labor!

From our U.S. Department of Labor family to yours, we wish you and your loved ones a Happy Hanukkah!

Merry Christmas from all of us at U.S. Department of Labor!

We hope that everyone has a joyful day! 🎄

Twas the night before Christmas behind the scenes, thousands of workers at farms, meatpacking facilities, warehouses, grocery stores, package delivery and retail stores are making sure you have what you need.

Be kind to all workers today and thank them for everything they do!