The Oregon Legislature founded the Bureau of Labor and Industries (BOLI) in 1903, with the mission to protect employment rights, advance employment opportunities and protect access to housing and public accommodations that are free from unlawful discrimination. 

The commissioner enforces state laws prohibiting discrimination in employment, housing, public accommodation and vocational, professional and trade schools. The commissioner has the authority to initiate a “commissioner’s complaint” on behalf of victims of discrimination.

Through the Wage and Hour Division, the commissioner administers state laws relating to wages, hours of employment, basic working conditions, child labor and prevailing wage rates, and licenses certain labor contractors to protect the workers they employ. The division oversees the Wage Security Fund that covers workers for unpaid wages in certain business closures and enforces group health insurance termination notification provisions.

The commissioner also directs the state’s registered apprenticeship training system that gives workers the opportunity to learn a job skill while earning a living. The program benefits employers by providing a pool of skilled workers to meet business and industry demands.

The agency works to support and train employers so that they can more easily comply with frequently complex state and federal employment law. The Administrative Prosecution Unit prosecutes the agency’s contested wage and hour and civil rights complaints. The commissioner issues final orders in all contested cases, except commissioner’s complaints.

BOLI employs nearly 100 professionals and is headquartered in Portland. Regional offices are located in Eugene and Salem.