In May 2023, the Biden-Harris Administration released the U.S. National Strategy to Counter Antisemitism, which outlined a whole-of-society approach to tackle antisemitism in America. The Strategy features over 100 meaningful actions that over two dozen government agencies will take to counter antisemitism. It also contains over 100 calls to action directed at Congress, State and local governments, companies, technology platforms, students, teachers and academics, civil society and faith leaders, and others.
Relatedly, in November 2023, the Administration announced the development of a National Strategy to Counter Islamophobia and Related Forms of Bias and Discrimination and asked agencies to work on combatting Islamophobia and discrimination against Muslims, and those perceived to be Muslim.
The Department of Labor's Civil Rights Center (CRC) enforces civil rights laws that protect individuals who are, or are perceived to be, Jewish, Muslim, or other religious groups. For example, CRC enforces Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (Title VI), which prohibits recipients of federal financial assistance from discriminating against individuals based on race, color, or national origin, which includes discrimination (including harassment) based on actual or perceived:
- shared ancestry or ethnic characteristics; and
- citizenship or residency in a country with a dominant religion or distinct religious identity.
This means, for example, that CRC may investigate complaints that individuals in DOL-assisted programs were subjected to ethnic slurs or stereotypes, harassment based on their style of dress that reflects both ethnic and religious traditions or heritage, or discrimination because of an accent or name.
CRC also enforces Section 188 of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA), which prohibits discrimination based on race, color, national origin, or religion, as well as other protected categories, in connection with WIOA Title I funded programs and activities.
The resources listed below are meant to help workers, employers, recipients of federal financial assistance, unions, and other stakeholders to understand the laws that prohibit antisemitism, Islamophobia, and other forms of discrimination and bias. The resources listed below also provide information for those who believe they have been subjected to a discriminatory action, including harassment or retaliation, by a covered entity.
CRC Policy Guidance on Title VI and Section 188 of WIOA
- Fact Sheet: Protecting Individuals from Discrimination Based on Actual or Perceived Religion, Shared Ancestry, or Ethnic Characteristics.
- ورقة حقائق: حماية األفراد من التمييز على أساس الدين الفعلي أو المتصور،أو النسب المشترك، أو الخصائص العرقية - Arabic
- גיליון מידע: הגנה על אנשים מפני אפליה המבוססת על דת או על תפיסה דתית, על מוצא משותף או על מאפיינים אתניים - Hebrew
- ਤੱਥ ਸ਼ੀਟ: ਅਸਲ ਜਾਂਕਿਥਤ ਧਰਮ, ਸਾਂਝੇਵੰਸ਼, ਜਾਂਸਿਭਆਚਾਰਕ ਿਵਸ਼ੇਸ਼ਤਾਵਾਂਦੇਆਧਾਰ 'ਤੇ ਿਵਤਕਰੇਤ�ਿਵਅਕਤੀਆਂਦੀ ਰੱਿਖਆ ਕਰਨਾ - Punjabi
- HOJA INFORMATIVA: Proteger a las personas contra la discriminación por motivos de la religión real o percibida, la ascendencia compartida o las características étnicas - Spanish
- حقائق نامہ: افراد کو حقیقی یا متصورہ مذہب، مشترکہ نسب یا نسلی خصوصیاتکی بنیاد پر امتیازی سلوک سے تحفظ فراہم کرنا - Urdu
- פאקט בלאט: שיצן מענטשן פן דיסקרימינאציע באזירט אויף רעאלע אדעראנגענומענע רעליגיע, שותפותדיגע אפשטאם, אדער עטנישע אייגנשאפטן - Yiddish
- Guidance Letter: Training and Enforcement Guidance Letter No. 05-23 on Complying with Nondiscrimination Requirements: Discrimination Based on Actual or Perceived Religion, Shared Ancestry, or Ethnic Characteristics are Prohibited Forms of Discrimination in the Workforce Development System.
Other CRC Resources
- Find information about how to comply with federal equal opportunity and nondiscrimination laws and regulations.
- If you believe discriminatory actions have been taken by a covered entity, you can file a complaint with CRC.
- If you have questions about religious accommodations or discrimination, you can reference this resource from CRC.
- Read frequently asked questions about the CRC complaint process.
General Resources on Your Rights in the Workplace
- DOL's Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) protects those who work for Federal Government Contractors or Subcontractors from discrimination based on religion and/or ethnicity.
- Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) Resources:
- Read about the protections against religious discrimination in workplace situations.
- Read about protections against Anti-Arab, Anti-Middle Eastern, Anti-Muslim, and Antisemitic Discrimination.
- Explore best practices for employers and employees to eradicate religious discrimination in the workplace from the EEOC.
- Learn about filing a complaint with the EEOC online, by mail or in person at the nearest EEOC office.
Resources About Unions
In addition to raising workers' wages and expanding benefits, union membership is also correlated with enforcement of workers' civil rights protections You can find research on this topic here.
- If you are looking for more information about your rights as a union member as they relate to discrimination based on actual or perceived religion, shared ancestry, or ethnic characteristics, you can refer to this one-pager.
- If you are interested in forming a union in your workplace, visit the Worker Organizing Knowledge and Resource Center.
- If you have questions about your right organize or collectively bargain, visit the National Labor Relations Board.