Congressman Dan Goldman Works to Remove Language Barriers in the Workplace

The 'Language Access for Workers Act' Would Establish New Grant Program to Ensure Translations of Important Workplace Notices

Read the Bill Here

Washington, DC – Congressman Dan Goldman (NY-10) joined Congressman Adam Schiff (CA-30) in introducing the 'Language Access for Workers Act' to create a grant program under the Department of Labor (DOL) to provide language access and translation services directly to employees.

These newly created grants would fund programs to overcome the language barriers that many workers encounter in the workplace, making it easier for employees to access essential occupational training, risk assessments, and health services necessary for safely performing their jobs.

“All workers – from the construction site to the office – deserve to fully understand their workplace rights and the risks associated with their jobs,” Congressman Dan Goldman said. “Far too often, language barriers serve as yet another risk to individuals who are simply doing their jobs. This bill will be simple to implement and will protect workers. Congress must take this step to make work safer for all.

The ‘Language Access for Workers Act’:

• Amends the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 to require that safety labels and warnings be provided in both English and the primary language of employees exposed to workplace hazards

• Establishes grants to support translation services for eligible entities, prioritizing those that serve areas with a significant population of migrant workers or in industries like agriculture and service

• Provides opportunities for both for-profit and non-profit organizations to apply for funding to assist in providing training and materials in accessible formats for workers with limited English proficiency

• Mandates that the Secretary of Labor review and amend existing regulations to ensure compliance with the new language access requirements

Congressman Dan Goldman is committed to expanding language access across the country.

Last year, Congressman Dan Goldman cosponsored the 'Mental Health Workforce and Language Access Act' to establish a grant program administered by the Department of Health and Human Services to provide federal funds to community health centers to help them hire qualified mental health professionals who are fluent in a language other than English.

Additionally, Goldman requested funding for the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to expand life-saving emergency alerts to ideographic languages such as Chinese, Japanese, and Korean. Currently these alerts are only disseminated in English and Spanish.

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