The Division of Labor Standards Enforcement (DLSE) is a state agency in California dedicated to enforcing labor laws and preventing wage theft. It is also known as the Labor Commissioner’s Office. Its primary role is to ensure compliance with regulations related to wages, working hours, and overall working conditions. The DLSE has the authority to investigate and take administrative action to recover unpaid wages for workers across the state.
In addition, DLSE investigators have the same authority as peace officers to make arrests for wage theft—similar to law enforcement officers handling other theft-related crimes. This is because many labor protection laws are rooted in criminal anti-theft statutes.
The DLSE also plays a key role in establishing and interpreting regulations, as well as developing procedural guidelines to effectively enforce California’s labor laws.