The California Labor and Workforce Development Agency (LWDA) is a cabinet-level California state agency that coordinates workforce programs by overseeing seven major departments dealing with benefit administration, enforcement of California labor laws, appellate functions related to employee benefits, workforce development, tax collection, economic development activities. It was conceived by Governor Gray Davis and was formally created by S.B. 1236 in 2002.^[1][2]

Organization

The agency oversees multiple departments and programs:^[3]

• California Department of Industrial Relations enforces labor laws through DLSE, workplace safety through Cal/OSHA, and workers’ compensation programs through DWC and WCAB.
• California Agricultural Labor Relations Board administers the California Agricultural Labor Relations Act, which establishes collective bargaining for farmworkers.
• Employment Development Department administers unemployment insurance (UI), disability insurance (DI), and paid family leave (PFL) programs.
• Unemployment Insurance Appeals Board is a quasi-judicial administrative court which hears appeals from determinations on unemployment insurance (UI) claims and taxes by the Employment Development Department.
• California Public Employment Relations Board
• California Workforce Development Board
• Employment Training Panel