WASHINGTON - The U.S. Department of Labor's Administrative Review Board (ARB) has ruled that 17 physicians, hired to work in rural Tennessee clinics under the Immigration and Nationality Act's H-1B visa program, are due over $1 million in back wages. The ARB also upheld the assessment of over $100,000 in civil money penalties for willful violations of the law.

Meets Congressional Deadline for Issuing Regulations

WASHINGTON - U.S. Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao announced today that the Department of Labor (DOL) has met the deadline to establish regulations for the newly created Part E of the Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program Act (EEOICPA).

WASHINGTON-For their efforts to promote equal employment opportunity, eight companies and organizations were honored today by the U.S. Department of Labor at an annual awards ceremony hosted by the department's Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP). Three types of awards-the Secretary of Labor's Opportunity Award, Exemplary Voluntary Efforts (EVE) Award, and Exemplary Public Interest Contribution Award-were presented to recognize innovative workplace programs and initiatives that increase equal employment opportunity for the American workforce.

WASHINGTON—The U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Labor-Management Standards (OLMS) today released its "2004 Program Highlights" annual report. This is the first annual report to be issued by OLMS since 1978 and highlights the fiscal year success of the agency and the importance of its role in supporting America's workforce.

WASHINGTON—The U.S. Department of Labor today announced the appointment of Donald G. Shalhoub as the first Ombudsman of the compensation program created by new Part E of the Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program Act (EEOICPA).

WASHINGTON—The U.S. Department of Labor has fined Wal-Mart $135,540 in civil money penalties for violating the youth employment provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). The department's Wage and Hour Division found that Wal-Mart allowed teenage workers to operate hazardous equipment resulting in one teenager being injured while operating a chain saw.

More than $1 Billion in Compensation and Medical Benefits Already Paid by Labor Department

WASHINGTON—The U.S. Department of Labor is moving swiftly to pay claims and benefits under a program established by the Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program Act's (EEOICPA) new Part E passed by Congress last year. The department announced today that nearly 100 claims will be approved for payment and distributed within the next month.

WASHINGTON—The Department of Labor is committed to helping the energy workers and families who have sacrificed for America 's freedom.

Four years ago, Congress passed the Energy Employees Occupational Injury Compensation Program Act. This program called EEOICPA compensates workers for the illnesses many suffered from working in Federal nuclear facilities. The Department of Labor took the lead in helping these workers and their families quickly.

New Website Detailed in Proposed Rulemaking Published Today

Rules Become Effective in 60 Days

WASHINGTON—The Labor Department published today in the Federal Register final regulations implementing changes to employment rules for youth. The new rules expand protections for youth working in restaurant cooking, roofing, and driving, among other changes.

Department of Labor Announces 31% Increase in Financial Remedies Recovered for Victims of Discrimination

WASHINGTON-The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) and the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) signed an agreement today to work together to promote greater awareness of and compliance with DOL's employment laws among businesses in the mortgage banking industry.

WASHINGTON—The U.S. Department of Labor announced today that Wachovia Corporation, headquartered in Charlotte, N.C., has agreed to settle findings of compensation discrimination against 2,021 current and former female employees. The agreement settles the department’s allegations that Wachovia engaged in compensation discrimination against female employees for six years.

WASHINGTON—Alfred B. Robinson, Jr., Acting Administrator for the Wage and Hour Division, the agency entrusted to enforce the overtime regulations in the U.S. Department of Labor, released the following statement regarding an amendment put forward by Congressman Obey (D-WI).

Labor Secretary Highlights Benefits of New Overtime Security Rule for First Responders

WARREN, Mich.—The Fraternal Order of Police in Warren, Mich., today welcomed U.S. Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao’s remarks about the proposed overtime reforms due to take effect on Aug. 23, 2004. She told the group that the new Overtime Security Rule will guarantee that more police, other first responders and millions of hard-working Americans receive overtime pay for their work.

Labor Secretary Highlights Benefits of New Overtime Security Rule for First Responders

Willoughby, Ohio—The Fraternal Order of Police in Willoughby, Ohio today welcomed U.S. Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao’s remarks about the proposed overtime reforms due to take effect on Aug. 23, 2004. Secretary Chao told the group that the new Overtime Security Rule will guarantee that more police, other first responders and millions of hard-working Americans receive overtime pay for their work.

WASHINGTON—In an effort to educate mushroom growers throughout the country about minimum wage, overtime and worker health and safety, the U.S. Labor Department’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD) has entered into a partnership with the American Mushroom Institute (AMI).

The AMI is a national, nonprofit trade association established by mushroom growers with a total membership of approximately 400 members, including 120 mushroom farms.

Minor was Illegally Employed to Operate a Forklift

WASHINGTON—The U.S. Department of Labor announced today that Fisherman’s Fleet, Inc., a fish processing company located in Malden, Mass. has been ordered to pay $132,575 in fines for violations of the youth employment provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act. The department’s Administrative Review Board reversed an administrative law judge’s decision that had reduced the penalty by 25 percent.

This Week: Michigan, Texas, North Carolina, and Pennsylvania

WASHINGTON—To ensure full employer compliance with the Department of Labor’s new overtime security rules, Department of Labor officials will be meeting with members of the human resource community this week in Michigan, Texas, North Carolina, and Pennsylvania. To date, Department of Labor officials have held over 60 presentations, forums, and briefings in over 20 states as part of an extensive compliance assistance outreach.

WASHINGTON—At a news conference today Chuck Canterbury, President of the nation’s largest police labor organization in America, the Fraternal Order of Police (FOP), and Ed Mullins, President of the Sergeants Benevolent Association of the New York City Police Department (SBA), the largest police sergeants organization in America, joined with Department of Labor Wage and Hour Administrator Tammy McCutchen in denouncing the new low in the campaign of misinformation being waged against the Department’s new Overtime Security rules for white collar workers.