Since 1982, Industry Liaison Groups across the country have emerged as an effective way of strengthening working relationships between federal contractors and government agencies such as the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). Established in 1994, the Greater Houston Industry Liaison Group (GHILG) offers a forum that encourages open communication between these groups.
Mission Statement
The goal of the Greater Houston Industry Liaison Group is to partner with the OFCCP and EEOC in working together.
History of ILGs
In the early 1980s, in anticipation of new regulations for Executive Order 11246, Ellen Shong-Bergman, then Director of the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs, Department of Labor, encouraged open communications between industry and the OFCCP through “Industry Liaison Groups” (ILGs).
Representatives from government contractors began forming ILGs in the DOL (Department of Labor) regions around the country and asked for technical assistance from the OFCCP regarding compliance issues. The concept initially took hold in Region X (Alaska, Washington, Oregon, and Idaho), but through encouragement from the OFCCP director’s office, ILGs began popping up all around the country. Both the OFCCP and industry wished to put aside the confrontational relationship that had formed over time.
Both sides wanted to develop more positive partnerships to achieve their mutual affirmative action and equal opportunity goals. ILGs have formed voluntarily to create a unique partnership of public and private sector cooperation to deal proactively with important social issues and reaching mutual goals. ILGs are models of cooperation which are wide-reaching.