Licensing and Certification

The Department of Labor Standards (DLS) Asbestos Program is responsible for the regulation of occupational asbestos exposure in the Commonwealth. The Program works with employers, employees, unions and state and local agencies to create healthier and safer work conditions for Massachusetts workers through site visits, analytical services, and technical information. The Program aids in the coordination of OSHA, EPA and Multi-State regulatory authorities along with the North Eastern U.S. States (CONES) in the common goal of protecting the public from long term damage from excessive asbestos exposure.

The goal of the Division of Occupational Safety's (DOS) Lead Program is to reduce the incidence and severity of lead exposures for the Commonwealth's workers and other members of the general public. DOS accomplishes this goal by administering and enforcing standards for renovation, repair and painting carried out in older homes and child-occupied facilities that may contain lead paint as well as for deleading operations. DOS also administers the Occupational Blood Lead Registry, which tracks elevated blood lead levels among adults, provides educational counseling and guidance to workers, and through its work medical consultant, offers advice to physicians on the medical management of lead poisoning.

The Employment Agency Program protects the rights of workers being placed by employment agencies,and ensures those agencies use fair, ethical, and legal business practices.We cover Modeling Agencies, Home Careplacement Agencies, Nanny and/or Babysitter, Placement Agencies, Temporary Staffing and Labor Firms, Permanent Placement Employment Firms.

The Department of Labor Standards(DLS) administers the Commonwealth's Minimum Fair Wage Law, MGL ch. 151, sec. 1 through 22.

The Minimum Fair Wage Law and Regulations address not only the payment of the basic minimum wage but also overtime; the minimum wage for tipped employees; reporting pay; on-duty or on-call time; travel time and expenses; deductions for lodging, meals, and uniforms; and wage records that employers are required to keep. If you have a question about the meaning of a provision in the Minimum Wage Law or Regulations, see the Minimum Wage and Overtime FAQs section below. If your question is not answered by the FAQs, email the Minimum Wage Program at Minimum.Wage@state.ma.us or call 617-626-6952.

The Massachusetts Minimum Wage is $8.00 per hour. The Service Rate is $2.63 per hour.