Federal Contractor Program
The VETS-4212 Report is due on September 30 annually. Federal contractors and subcontractors are encouraged to complete and submit the reports online through our VETS-4212 Reporting Application website.
Background
The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL)'s Veterans' Employment and Training Service (VETS) is responsible for administering the requirement under the Vietnam Era Veterans' Readjustment Assistance Act of 1974 (VEVRAA) (38 U.S.C. 4212(d)) that federal contractors and subcontractors track and report annually to the Secretary of Labor the number of employees in their workforces who belong to the categories of veterans covered under the affirmative action provisions of the Act.
What VEVRAA does
This law prohibits federal contractors and subcontractors from discriminating in employment against protected veterans and requires employers take affirmative action to recruit, hire, promote, and retain these individuals. Learn more at OFCCP’s Vietnam Era Veterans' Readjustment Assistance Act page (OFCCP).
The Jobs for Veterans Act (JVA), enacted in 2000, amended the reporting requirements under VEVRAA by increasing the dollar amount of the Federal contract and subcontract that triggers coverage, and changing the categories of veterans that contractors and subcontractors are to track and report. The regulations at 41 CFR 61-300 implement the JVA amendments to the reporting requirements under VEVRAA, and require federal contractors and subcontractors with a contract or subcontract of $150,000 or more to file a VETS-4212 Report.
Federal contractors and subcontractors completing the VETS-4212 Report are to provide information on the number of employees and new hires during the reporting period who are protected veterans' defined as:
- Disabled veterans;
- Veterans who served on active duty in the U.S. military during a war or campaign or expedition for which a campaign badge is awarded;
- Veterans who, while serving on active duty in the Armed Forces, participated in a United States military operation for which an Armed Forces service medal was awarded pursuant to Executive Order 12985; and
- Recently separated veterans (veterans within 36 months from discharge or release from active duty).
Mandatory Job Listings
The Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) administers and enforces the affirmative action provisions of VEVRAA, which require Federal contractors and subcontractors to employ and advance in employment qualified covered veterans. To implement the affirmative action requirement, VEVRAA and the implementing regulations at 41 CFR 60-300 issued by OFCCP require federal contractors and subcontractors to list most employment openings with the appropriate employment service delivery system and each such employment service delivery system is required to give covered veterans priority in referrals to such openings. Executive and senior management positions, positions to be filled from within the contractor's organization, and positions lasting three days or less are exempt from the mandatory job listing requirement. Listing jobs with the State workforce agency job bank or with the local employment service delivery system where the opening occurs will satisfy the requirement to list job openings with the appropriate employment service delivery system. Additional information on the mandatory job listing requirement is available on the OFCCP website
Affirmative Action Program
OFCCP regulations implementing VEVRAA also require certain federal contractors and subcontractors to develop and maintain a written affirmative action program (AAP). The AAP sets forth the policies and practices the contractor has in place to ensure that its personnel policies and practices do not limit employment opportunities for covered veterans. The AAP also spells out the steps the contractor will take to recruit, train, and promote covered veterans. Additional information about the written AAP is also available on the OFCCP website
Technical Assistance and Guidance
Specific instructions, information and follow-up assistance is available at the VETS-4212 website at www.dol.gov/agencies/vets/programs/vets4212#howtofile, the VETS-4212 Customer Support Center at 1-866-237-0275, or email vets4212-customersupport@dolncc.dol.gov. VETS encourages online website submission of all reports, enter your reports online using the VETS-4212 Reporting Application.
This is one of a series of fact sheets highlighting U.S. Department of Labor programs.
It is intended as a general description only and does not carry the force of legal opinion.