The Department of Labour, Sarawak (JTKSWK) was established by the State Government of Sarawak on 1st January 1960 with staff strength of 6 persons. Labour Office, Kuching was set up 9 years later followed by the other 10 Labour Offices.

Under the Inter-Governmental Committee (IGC) Report 1962, the Director of Labour Sarawak is directly responsible to the Minister of Human Resources through the Secretary General on the administration of labour matters in Sarawak.

With the formation of Malaysia on 16th September 1963, Department of Labour Sarawak was placed under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Human Resources, or Ministry of Labour as it was known at that time.
 Labour Offices in Sarawak was set up as follows :-

On the 1st July 2003, Employment Services Section of The Manpower Department was merged with Sarawak Labour Department. The name 'Jabatan Buruh' was changed to 'Jabatan Tenaga Kerja Sarawak' (JTKSWK).