The U.S. Department of Labor announced a voluntary resolution agreement with the Employment Department of Oregon to enhance language access in its unemployment insurance program for individuals with limited English proficiency.
A compliance review by the department’s Civil Rights Center found that while Oregon's UI program has made efforts to provide language access as required by federal law, there are areas needing improvement to ensure meaningful access for all.
Under this voluntary conciliation agreement, the Oregon Employment Department’s Unemployment Insurance Program commits to:
- Make vital information available in multiple non-English languages, including Amharic, Arabic, Spanish, Simplified and Traditional Chinese, Farsi, Korean, Lao, Russian, Somali, and Vietnamese.
- Provide interpretation and translation services promptly upon request or as legally required.
- Conduct comprehensive training for staff, managers, volunteers, and contractors on legal obligations to people with limited English proficiency.
- Continue providing vital information on its public website using qualified translators.
- Systematically collect and analyze demographics regarding LEP status and preferred languages of individuals interacting with Oregon’s unemployment insurance program.
- Revise and display “Babel notices” on every webpage in multiple languages to inform readers about accessing language services for translations of the page’s content.
“Our collaborative effort with the Oregon Employment Department epitomizes our dedication to ensuring that language barriers do not hinder access to crucial services,” said Civil Rights Center Director Naomi Barry-Pérez. “By setting this fine example of compliance and cooperation, we are laying the groundwork for more inclusive government services across the nation.”
The CRC enforces nondiscrimination laws applicable to the nation’s unemployment insurance program and other recipients of financial assistance from the U.S. Department of Labor.
For more information about the Civil Rights Center or to request translation or interpreter services in your language, email CRCExternalComplaints@dol.gov or call (202) 693-6500.
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