The Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) is a governmental agency in the
U.S. state
In the United States, a state is a constituent political entity, of which there are 50. Bound together in a political union, each state holds governmental jurisdiction over a separate and defined geographic territory where it shares its so ...
of
Texas
Texas ( , ; or ) is the most populous U.S. state, state in the South Central United States, South Central region of the United States. It borders Louisiana to the east, Arkansas to the northeast, Oklahoma to the north, New Mexico to the we ...
that provides
unemployment benefits
Unemployment, according to the OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development), is the proportion of people above a specified age (usually 15) not being in paid employment or self-employment but currently available for work d ...
and services related to employment to eligible individuals and businesses.
For employers, TWC offers recruiting, retention, training and retraining, and outplacement services, as well as valuable information on
labor law
Labour laws (also spelled as labor laws), labour code or employment laws are those that mediate the relationship between workers, employing entities, trade unions, and the government. Collective labour law relates to the tripartite relationship be ...
and unemployment insurance,
tax
A tax is a mandatory financial charge or levy imposed on an individual or legal entity by a governmental organization to support government spending and public expenditures collectively or to regulate and reduce negative externalities. Tax co ...
-saving programs and labor market planning. For job seekers, TWC offers career development information, job search resources, training programs, and administers the unemployment benefits program.
TWC's
online
In computer technology and telecommunications, online indicates a state of connectivity, and offline indicates a disconnected state. In modern terminology, this usually refers to an Internet connection, but (especially when expressed as "on lin ...
job-matching system
workintexas.com features thousands of opportunities for Texas jobseekers and qualified applicants for Texas employers.
One large program, the Skills Development Fund, is Texas' premier job–training program providing training dollars for Texas businesses to help workers learn new skills and upgrade existing skills.
TWC also administers the Texas Payday Law, Texas
Child Labor
Child labour is the exploitation of children through any form of work that interferes with their ability to attend regular school, or is mentally, physically, socially and morally harmful. Such exploitation is prohibited by legislation w ...
Law and Child Care Services. TWC works with 28 Local Workforce Development Boards to provide employment assistance and promote self-sufficiency for customers. The boards oversee the delivery of child care services, employment and training programs for welfare recipients, as well as planning employment services in their area's Texas Workforce Centers. They also direct the services called for under the Workforce Investment Act.
The agency is headquartered in
Downtown
''Downtown'' is a term primarily used in American and Canadian English to refer to a city's sometimes commercial, cultural and often the historical, political, and geographic heart. It is often synonymous with its central business district ( ...
Austin
Austin refers to:
Common meanings
* Austin, Texas, United States, a city
* Austin (given name), a list of people and fictional characters
* Austin (surname), a list of people and fictional characters
* Austin Motor Company, a British car manufac ...
.
TWC is responsible for administering the Texas Commission on Human Rights Act to investigate and regulate unlawful forms of discrimination in employment in the state of Texas. The Texas Commission on Human Rights Act (TCHRA) is codified in chapter 21 of the Texas Labor Code although it is commonly still referred to as the TCHRA. The TCHRA/chapter 21 of the Texas Labor Code empowers the TWC similar to the federal Equal Employment Opportunities Commission (EEOC) with analogous responsibilities at the state level.
In 2016, several vocational rehabilitation services provided through the Department of Assistive and Rehabilitation Services were transferred. These included:
* The Vocational Rehabilitation program for individuals with visual impairments, including the Criss Cole Rehabilitation Center
* The Vocational Rehabilitation program for individuals with other disabilities
* The Business Enterprises of Texas program
* The Independent Living Services program for older individuals who are blind.
Incidents
In 2018, the Coalition of Texans with Disabilities threatened to sue because TWC staff were not offering to help Texans with disabilities receiving VR services register to vote or updating voter registration information under the 1993 National Voter Registration Act. This service had previously been provided by DARS. TWC Staff later agreed to provide the services in a letter signed by the Texas Secretary of State.
In 2013, a Fort Worth TWC employee was sentenced to six years in federal prison for identity theft and mail fraud. Deshon Haynes diverted unemployment insurance of deceased individuals and at least five other claimants. Haynes was also required to pay full restitution.
In 2011, the Comptroller was involved in a data breach exposing personal information of 3.5 million Texans. Encryption procedures to conceal Social Security, names, addresses, and other identifying material had not been utilized. Some data exposed by the Comptroller was data they had received from the Texas Workforce Commission. The Texas Attorney General and the FBI reviewed security procedures.
References
External links
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{{authority control
State agencies of Texas
Unemployment in the United States