The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) proposed significant revisions to its Depression-era registered apprenticeship program in a proposed rule published January 17, 2024, in the Federal Register. The proposal would add numerous provisions intended to bolster workforce protections for apprentices and enhance workforce diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA). Critics claim that the proposal would add bureaucracy and discourage participation by employers whose workforces are not unionized. DOL is accepting public comments on the proposal until March 18, 2024.
Apprenticeship programs do not have to be registered with DOL, but doing so conveys several benefits: industry recognition, technical assistance from a national apprenticeship system, credentialing of program graduates, demonstrated compliance with minimum quality standards, potential state tax credits, and access to federal funding resources.
Members of the Center for Workplace Compliance (CWC), our affiliated nonprofit membership association, can read more here.