Connecticut Joins Multistate Alliance to Strengthen Worker Protection Enforcement
The Connecticut Department of Labor has joined a six-state enforcement alliance to share data, target repeat violators, and strengthen worker protections across state lines.
- By Stasia DeMarco
- Jan 14, 2026
The Connecticut Department of Labor has joined a multistate worker protection alliance aimed at strengthening labor law enforcement and identifying employers with repeat violations across state lines.
The reciprocity agreement now includes labor agencies from Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, and New York. The partnership allows participating states to share data, intelligence, and investigative resources to address labor law violations such as wage theft, employee misclassification, and other practices that can undermine worker safety and economic stability.
Labor officials say employers that violate wage and classification laws often also fail to comply with workplace safety requirements, making coordinated enforcement an important tool for protecting workers and responsible businesses.
The alliance was originally formed in 2019 by Delaware, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania to prevent “bad actor” employers from shutting down operations in one state and reopening in another to avoid enforcement actions. Connecticut’s addition expands the reach of the agreement across much of the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast.
Connecticut Labor Commissioner Danté Bartolomeo said the agreement strengthens the department’s ability to hold employers accountable and prevent repeat violations. Officials from the other participating states emphasized that labor enforcement efforts must extend beyond state borders as businesses increasingly operate regionally.
Under the agreement, states will collaborate on data sharing, referrals, and joint investigations, helping agencies respond more effectively to violations that threaten worker protections and fair competition.
The expanded alliance reflects a growing emphasis on regional cooperation among labor agencies as enforcement challenges become more complex and interconnected.
About the Author
Stasia DeMarco brings a strong and varied journalism background to her role at Occupational Health & Safety, having previously served as a multimedia editor, broadcast journalist, professor and reviewer across major news organizations. As Content Editor, she writes news and feature articles, hosts sponsor and editorial webinars, co-hosts the SafetyPod worker health and safety podcast, and manages the brand’s digital and social media presence. She is committed to informing and engaging the safety community through compelling reporting and conversations that support safer, healthier workplaces.