CWC Supports Simplification of Registered Apprenticeship EEO Regulations

September 3, 2025

What's New

This week, CWC submitted comments to the Department of Labor supporting proposed revisions to the equal employment opportunity rules for registered apprenticeship sponsors.

We emphasized that the current regulatory regime is rooted in the system predating enactment of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, and that requiring detailed affirmative action plans, especially after the rescission of Executive Order 11246, create unnecessary barriers to entry. Modern civil rights laws, when appropriately enforced, offer robust protections that make a separate regulatory regime outdated.

We also endorsed DOL’s recognition that employers are the best judge of potential methods for meeting nondiscrimination obligations within their unique operations.

What It Means

DOL will review public comments before deciding whether to finalize or revise the proposed rule. It has not announced a timeline, but the process will likely take several months.

What You Should Do

Sponsors of registered apprenticeship programs should continue to comply with current regulations until DOL issues a formal update. Employers operating outside the registered apprenticeship system may wish to assess whether the flexibility of remaining independent continues to outweigh the benefits of participation.

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