The U.S. Department of Labor will open an online portal for federal contractors and subcontractors to certify affirmative action program compliance.
The Contractor Portal will open March 31 to enable federal contractors and subcontractors to certify their compliance, according to a March 20 DOL news release. Covered contractors must develop and maintain affirmative action programs for each establishment or functional unit.
“The Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs urges federal contractors to certify their annual compliance with their affirmative action program requirements in a timely fashion using our Contractor Portal,” Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs Director Jenny Yang said in the release.
Beginning in this year, contractors must also report the coverage period for their affirmative action programs to provide greater insight into a contractor’s affirmative action program cycle, the release reported.
Using the Contractor Portal, existing federal contractors and subcontractors must complete their certification for the second annual cycle by June 29, according to the release. Contractors within OFCCP’s jurisdiction that meet certain contract dollar and employee thresholds must develop and maintain affirmative action programs and certify their compliance annually.
The online tool will make the process more efficient and promote greater contractor attention to their responsibility to evaluate employment practices and remove barriers to opportunity, the release reported.
Affirmative action requirements ensure applicants and employees of federal contractors have equal employment opportunity without regard to their race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or status as a protected veteran, according to the release. This initiative supports the department’s goal of ensuring that all workers have access to good, safe jobs and is part of the agency’s efforts to use technology to promote compliance assistance for workers and employers alike.
The portal allows multiple users from the same organization to register, manage records and certify each establishment and functional unit. For more information, visit the OFCCP Contractor Portal online.