Boston – The U.S. Department of Labor has obtained a consent judgment requiring the plan administrator and trustee to restore nearly $23,000 owed to the 401(k) plan of defunct Davis Design Associates Inc. of Fitchburg, Massachusetts.

The department sued the company and its president, Paul Stewart Smith – the 401(k) plan trustee – for allegedly violating the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA).

Seattle – The U.S. Department of Labor has obtained a default judgment against the Seatoma Convalescent Center of Des Moines, Washington, giving its workers access to nearly $18,000 in 401(k) trust assets.

PERRYSBURG, Ohio – While in Perrysburg with Gov. Ted Strickland today, Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis announced that the U.S. Department of Labor has certified for release $88,169,529 in unemployment insurance (UI) modernization incentive funds for the state of Ohio. The state qualified for the funds available under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (Recovery Act) by allowing workers to use their more recent earnings to qualify for benefits.

WASHINGTON – U.S. Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis today announced 13 grants totaling $9,899,200 aimed at providing young parents with employment and training opportunities to provide a better future for themselves and their families.

ROMULUS, Mich. – While in Romulus today touring the General Motors Romulus Engine Plant, Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis announced that the U.S. Department of Labor is releasing an additional $49.9 million to the state of Michigan to provide career training and employment and case management services to workers whose jobs are impacted for trade-related reasons, as well as for associated administrative costs. Combined with the original fiscal year 2009 allocations, Michigan now has nearly $60 million available to assist trade-affected workers.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor has certified for release $32,260,831 in unemployment insurance (UI) modernization incentive funds to the state of Idaho. Idaho qualified for the funds available under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (Recovery Act) by providing for a variety of provisions that assist recent entrants to the workforce, part time workers and people who are upgrading their skills.

UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE WEEKLY CLAIMS REPORT

SEASONALLY ADJUSTED DATA In the week ending May 23, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 623,000, a decrease of 13,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 636,000. The 4-week moving average was 626,750, a decrease of 3,000 from the previous week's revised average of 629,750.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor has certified for release $4,639,299 in unemployment insurance (UI) modernization incentive funds to the state of Vermont. Vermont qualified for the funds available under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (Recovery Act) by allowing workers to use their more recent earnings to qualify for benefits. Vermont's approved application will be posted at the department's Employment and Training Administration Web site at http://www.doleta.gov/recovery.

WASHINGTON – U.S. Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis today issued the following statement on President Obama's nomination of Judge Sonia Sotomayor to the Supreme Court of the United States:

WESTBURY, N.Y. – The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has cited Wal-Mart Stores Inc. for inadequate crowd management following the Nov. 28, 2008, death of an employee at its Valley Stream, N.Y., store. The worker died of asphyxiation after he was knocked to the ground and trampled by a crowd of about 2,000 shoppers who surged into the store for its annual "Blitz Friday" pre-holiday sales event.

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor today announced that it has paid more than $1 billion in compensation and medical benefits to 9,134 Tennessee residents under the Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program Act (EEOICPA). The act was created to assist those individuals who became ill as a result of working in the atomic weapons industry. Survivors of such individuals may also be eligible for benefits.

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor today announced that it has paid more than $500 million in compensation and medical benefits to 4,798 current and former employees of the Paducah Gaseous Diffusion Plant and their survivors under the Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program Act (EEOICPA). The EEOICPA was created to assist individuals who became ill as a result of working in the atomic weapons industry. Survivors of such individuals may also be eligible for benefits.

Washington – The Advisory Council on Employee Welfare and Pension Benefit Plans (also known as the ERISA Advisory Council) will meet June 11 in Washington at the U.S. Department of Labor, 200 Constitution Avenue N.W., Room S-2508.

Minneapolis – The U.S. Department of Labor has obtained a consent order and judgment appointing Midwest Fiduciary Services as an independent fiduciary to distribute the assets of the abandoned Nat Joseph Catering Inc. 401(k) plan to eligible participants and beneficiaries.

New minimum rates become effective this month

WASHINGTON — The federal minimum wage will increase for employees in American Samoa and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI), effective May 25 and May 26 respectively. With the increase, the new minimum wage rates in American Samoa, which vary by industry, will range from $4.18 for garment manufacturing to $5.59 for certain types of shipping and transportation. Employees who work in the CNMI can expect to receive $4.55 per hour.

Washington — The U. S. Department of Labor’s Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA) and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) today announced a joint public hearing on June 18, 2009, to hear testimony on the investment of 401(k) and other retirement plans in target date type plans. The hearing will begin at 9:00 a.m. in the department’s auditorium, 200 Constitution Avenue, NW in Washington, DC.

UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE WEEKLY CLAIMS REPORT

SEASONALLY ADJUSTED DATA In the week ending May 16, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 631,000, a decrease of 12,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 643,000. The 4-week moving average was 628,500, a decrease of 3,500 from the previous week's revised average of 632,000.

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor today announced that it has received its ninth successive Certificate of Excellence in Accountability Reporting (CEAR) Award from the Association of Government Accountants (AGA) for the department's outstanding fiscal year (FY) 2008 Performance and Accountability Report. Associate Deputy Chief Financial Officer for Fiscal Integrity Yoko Albayrak accepted the award on behalf of the department at a National Press Club ceremony last night in Washington.

Washington — The U.S. Department of Labor today announced the appeal process individuals can use if they are denied a premium subsidy for their group health plan continuation coverage. The Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985 (COBRA) requires many group health plans to temporarily continue health coverage for employees and their families following termination of employment at the employee’s own expense.

Washington – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA) today announced publication of a notice further extending the applicability and effective dates of the final rule on investment advice under the Pension Protection Act to November 18, 2009. The notice is expected to be published in the May 22 edition of the Federal Register.