US Dept. of Labor, Oregon Employment Dept. reach agreement on improving language access to benefits program

WASHINGTON (KTVZ) — The U.S. Department of Labor announced a voluntary resolution agreement Wednesday with the Employment Department of Oregon to reaffirm its commitment to provide meaningful access in its unemployment insurance program for people with limited English proficiency.

A compliance review by the department’s Civil Rights Center determined Oregon’s UI program has made commendable efforts to provide language access to people as required by federal law, but that areas for improvement exist to ensure people with limited English proficiency have meaningful access to the state’s UI program.

As part of this voluntary conciliation agreement, the Oregon Employment Department’s Unemployment Insurance Program commits to do the following:

• Make vital information available in non-English languages, including Amharic, Arabic, Spanish, Simplified and Traditional Chinese, Farsi, Korean, Lao, Russian, Somali and Vietnamese.
• Promptly provide interpretation and translation services to people with limited English proficiency upon request or as the law requires.
• Conduct comprehensive training to staff, managers, volunteers and contractors on the agency’s legal obligations to people with limited English proficiency.
• Continue to provide vital information on its public website using qualified translators.
• Systematically collect and analyze demographics regarding LEP status and preferred languages of individuals who come in contact with Oregon’s unemployment insurance program.
• Revise and display “Babel notices” on every webpage in multiple languages to inform readers that the communication contains vital information and explain how to access 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.”

CRC enforces nondiscrimination laws that apply to the nation’s unemployment insurance program as well as to other recipients of financial assistance from the U.S. Department of Labor.

Learn more about the Civil Rights Center.

To request translation or interpreter services in your language, email CRCExternalComplaints@dol.gov or call (202) 693-6500.