How can workers file wage, safety, or discrimination complaints with Hawaii DLIR?

Updated

Hawaii workers can file wage, workplace safety, and discrimination complaints through the Hawaii Department of Labor and Industrial Relations (DLIR) at labor.hawaii.gov. The site organizes these into three separate service areas — Wage Complaints & Minors, Occupational Safety & Health, and Civil Rights/Discrimination — each with its own process. Which one you use depends on the nature of your problem: unpaid wages or child labor issues go to the Wage Standards Division, safety hazards go to HIOSH, and discrimination goes to the Civil Rights Division.

Which complaint type applies to your situation?

Your issue DLIR service area What it covers
Unpaid wages, overtime, minimum wage violations Wage Complaints & Minors Wage theft, payment disputes, minor labor law
Unsafe working conditions, hazards, injury risks Occupational Safety & Health (HIOSH) Workplace safety inspections and enforcement
Discrimination based on race, sex, religion, disability, etc. Civil Rights/Discrimination Employment discrimination complaints
Work permit needed for a minor employee Wage Complaints & Minors Work permits for minors

Filing a wage complaint

The Wage Complaints & Minors section handles disputes over unpaid wages, minimum wage, and overtime. It also administers work permits for minors.

To file, you generally need to provide:

  • Your employer's name and address
  • Dates and hours worked without proper pay
  • Pay stubs or records showing what you were paid
  • A description of the violation

Keep your own copies of pay records. Wage claims often depend on documentation you can produce independently of your employer.

Reporting safety concerns (HIOSH)

The Occupational Safety & Health section links to HIOSH (Hawaii Occupational Safety and Health). This is the state agency that enforces workplace safety standards.

HIOSH matters have their own pages and procedures, including a separate appeals process. If you're reporting a hazard, note:

  • The specific hazard and its location
  • How long it has existed
  • Whether anyone has been injured
  • Whether you've already reported it internally

Safety appeals go through a distinct channel from initial complaints — check the HIOSH pages directly rather than assuming the general complaint path applies.

Filing a discrimination complaint

The Civil Rights/Discrimination section covers employment discrimination. Complaints typically involve unequal treatment based on protected characteristics such as race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, or age.

Discrimination complaints often have filing deadlines that differ from wage or safety complaints. Confirm the current deadline with DLIR directly, since missing it can bar your claim.

Related services worth knowing

  • Unemployment Insurance Appeals — if your issue is about a denied UI claim rather than your employer, this is a separate appeals track.
  • Public Records Request — you can request government records through DLIR if you need documentation.
  • WIOA Equal Opportunity Program — covers equal opportunity concerns related to Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act programs.
  • Veteran Services — employment assistance specifically for veterans.

Quick reference: where to start

  1. Identify your issue type using the table above.
  2. Go to the matching section on labor.hawaii.gov (Wage Complaints & Minors, Occupational Safety & Health, or Civil Rights/Discrimination).
  3. Gather documentation — pay records, dates, names, and any prior reports.
  4. Check deadlines for your complaint type before filing.
  5. For UI-related disputes, use the Unemployment Insurance Appeals channel instead.

For the fastest assistance on unemployment insurance questions specifically, DLIR directs users to its Contact Form at labor.hawaii.gov/ui/contact-form or the UI Call Center at (808) 762-5752 or (833) 901-2272.