[Code of Federal Regulations] [Title 29, Volume 9] [Revised as of July 1, 2005] From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access [CITE: 29CFR1977.23] [Page 196-197] TITLE 29--LABOR CHAPTER XVII--OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT OF LABOR (CONTINUED) PART 1977_DISCRIMINATION AGAINST EM PLOY EES EX ER CIS ING RIGHTS Sec. 1977.23 State plans. A State which is implementing its own occupational safety and health enforcement program pursuant to section 18 of the Act and parts 1902 and 1952 of this chapter must have provisions as effective as those of section 11(c) to protect employees from discharge or discrimination. Such provisions do not divest either the Secretary of Labor or Federal district courts of jurisdiction over employee complaints of discrimination. However, the Secretary of Labor may refer complaints of employees adequately protected by State Plans' provisions to the appropriate state agency. The basic principles outlined in Sec. 1977.18, supra will be observed [[Page 197]] as to deferrals to findings of state agencies.