HERSHEY, PA – A federal investigation found that a Dunkin’ franchisee violated child labor laws when it allowed 14-and-15-year-olds to work outside permissible hours at three locations in Dauphin and Lebanon counties.

The U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division determined that franchisee Akshar Ashish LLC, operating as Dunkin' and headquartered in Hershey, permitted 14-and-15-year-old employees to:

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Employee Benefits Security Administration today announced that it will hold an online public hearing on the proposed amendment to its Class Prohibited Transaction Exemption 84-14, also known as the Qualified Professional Asset Manager Exemption. The department is also extending the public comment period for the proposed amendment for an additional 15 days, through Oct.

CLAYTON, OH – A Clayton company was cited for exposing workers to fires and failing to train them on initial stage fire identification and use of fire extinguishers after federal safety investigators received a referral from a local fire department that responded to 13 fires at the auto parts manufacturer in a two-year period.

WILLIAMSON, WV – The U.S. Department of Labor has taken legal action after an investigation by its Employee Benefits Security Administration found the former CEO of a West Virginia hospital, who was a fiduciary of the company’s healthcare plan, failed to forward contributions to the plan. This led to the plan’s cancellation and left participating employees with a significant number of unpaid claims – and without health coverage.

WASHINGTON – U.S. Secretary of Labor Marty Walsh issued the following statement on Labor Day 2022:

“On Labor Day we honor the achievements of America’s workers, and in 2022 we have a historic victory to celebrate. Our nation’s working people have come all the way back from the depths of a global pandemic, regaining every job lost and more.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a funding opportunity availability of up to $10 million to support the work of the local, state-level labor courts created by Mexico’s 2019 labor law reform. The project will focus on strengthening the capacity of the courts to adjudicate labor cases, particularly those related to freedom of association, collective bargaining and other fundamental labor rights.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced its intention to fund a grant of up to $3 million to improve the working and living conditions for field workers and their families in the Dominican Republic sugar sector.

WASHINGTON – U.S. Secretary of Labor Marty Walsh issued the following statement on the August 2022 Employment Situation Report:

WASHINGTON – The U.S.

Employer name:                   Yaghi Enterprises, Inc. operating as Yaghi’s New York Pizzeria

Investigation sites:                12400 Hwy. 71 West, Suite 510, Austin

WASHINGTON – The Federal Mine Safety and Health Review Commission has ruled unanimously that the operator of a Francisco, Indiana coal mine violated mandatory safety standards when it continued to operate an energized drill during a methane inundation, creating the risk of a catastrophic explosion.

WASHINGTON – Dr. Jill Biden welcomed U.S. Secretary of Labor Marty Walsh and U.S.

LEXINGTON, SC – A U.S. Department of Labor investigation that found child labor violations at nine Burger King franchise locations in the Columbia area has prompted the restaurants’ operator to enter into a compliance agreement and change the way it operates to improve working conditions for minor-aged workers at all current and future locations of this brand.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today inducted the essential workers of the coronavirus pandemic into the Department of Labor’s Hall of Honor in recognition of their sacrifices and continuous efforts to support America’s communities through the pandemic.

LANCASTER, PA – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs has entered into a conciliation agreement with Eurofins Lancaster Laboratories Environment LLC to resolve alleged hiring discrimination against Asian job applicants at the federal contractor’s Lancaster facility.

CHICAGO – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration found Wells Fargo violated the whistleblower protection provisions of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act for improperly terminating a Chicago area-based senior manager in the company’s commercial banking segment.

In the week ending August 27, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 232,000, a decrease of 5,000 from the previous week's revised level. The previous week's level was revised down by 6,000 from 243,000 to 237,000. The 4-week moving average was 241,500, a decrease of 4,000 from the previous week's revised average. The previous week's average was revised down by 1,500 from 247,000 to 245,500.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Mine Safety and Health Administration today launched an app for use on iPhone and Android devices that will help get timely information directly to miners and members of the mining community.

AKRON, OH – Federal wage investigators have recovered $67,294 in unpaid wages for 29 workers after their Akron employer, a tire equipment maker, allowed them to work for months without pay.

The U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division found McNeil and NRM Inc. failed to pay workers for two-and-one-half months in 2022. The Fair Labor Standards Act mandates that wages are due on the regular payday for the pay period covered.

Who:                                       Deputy Secretary of Labor Julie Su