WYNNE, AR – As a result of a U.S. Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division (WHD) investigation, Matthews Sweet Potato Farm, based in Wynne, Arkansas, has paid $56,193 in back wages to 113 employees, and $6,600 in civil money penalties to settle violations of the labor provisions of the H-2A temporary agricultural visa program.

MARATHON, FL – FL Food Services LLC, operating as Porky's Bayside Restaurant and Marina, will pay $73,626 in back wages to 35 employees after a U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division (WHD) investigation found the employer violated overtime and recordkeeping provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

WASHINGTON, DC – As the Trump Administration mobilizes to address opioid abuse, the U.S. Department of Labor today announced more than $22 million in National Health Emergency (NHE) Dislocated Worker Demonstration Grant funding to six state grantees. The grants will be used to provide reemployment services for individuals impacted by the health and economic effects of widespread opioid use, addiction, and overdose.

ADEL, GA – The U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division (WHD) has revoked the certificate of registration for H-2A farm labor contractor Jesus Contreras for violating requirements of the Migrant and Seasonal Agricultural Worker Protection Act (MSPA). Contreras provided 29 farmworkers to harvest and package mixed green vegetables at VPC Produce LLC/4 Way Farms LLC in Adel, Georgia.

As a result of the violations, the WHD has assessed Contreras $77,885 in civil money penalties and found that the employer owes $1,894 in back wages to 10 farmworkers.

LENOIR CITY, TN – Proton Power Inc. has paid $143,336 in back wages to 82 employees after a U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division (WHD) investigation found that the biodiesel fuels company violated minimum wage and overtime provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

WHD investigators found Proton Power Inc. of Lenoir City, Tennessee, failed to pay employees at least the minimum wage and overtime rates at time-and-one-half for hours worked over 40 in a workweek due to missed payroll.

ORLANDO, FL – An investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD) has determined Orlando-based construction company GMH Construction Inc. violated child labor and recordkeeping requirements of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). As a result, WHD issued the company $3,530 in civil money penalties.

OPELIKA, AL – The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has cited Packaging Corp. of America for exposing employees to unprotected machinery and amputation hazards. The cardboard box manufacturer, based in Opelika, Alabama, faces proposed penalties of $66,612.

LAKEWOOD, NJ - The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has cited GMG Brito Contractors LLC for exposing employees to fall and other safety hazards at a residential construction site in Lakewood, New Jersey. OSHA has proposed penalties totaling $127,436.

CALVERT CITY, KY – The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has cited five contractors for safety and health violations after three employees were fatally injured and two others critically injured following an explosion onboard a towboat in Calvert City, Kentucky. The five companies collectively received 55 of violations with proposed penalties totaling $795,254.

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor's Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) announced today the availability of up to $250,000 in funding through its Brookwood-Sago grant program to support education and training to help identify, avoid, and prevent unsafe working conditions in and around the nation's mines. Brookwood-Sago grants focus on powered haulage safety, examinations of working places at metal and nonmetal mines, or emergency prevention and preparedness.

WASHINGTON, DC – The Women's Bureau at the U.S. Department of Labor has posted interactive career education information, using data from the U.S. Census Bureau. The information, including the median annual earnings in more than 300 occupations, is intended to help Americans make informed decisions about their career path.

NORTH CHARLESTON, SC – U.S. Secretary of Labor Alexander Acosta toured the Boeing Company's North Charleston facility today as he highlighted President Trump's Pledge to America's Workers – a White House initiative that calls on job creators to invest in the workforce by providing opportunities for education and training that will help more Americans thrive in the modern workplace.

ATLANTA, GA – The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) signed a strategic partnership with the Georgia Tech Enterprise Innovation Institute's Safety, Health, and Environmental Services Group; Associated General Contractors of Georgia Inc. (AGC Georgia); and Brasfield & Gorrie LLC to promote workplace safety and health during the construction of the Coca-Cola United South Metro Sales Center and Warehouse in Union City, Georgia.

AUBURN, AL – The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has cited auto parts manufacturer Arkal Automotive USA Inc. for exposing workers to electrical and amputation hazards. The Auburn, Alabama, company faces $47,857 in proposed penalties.

WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Secretary of Labor Alexander Acosta issued the following statement today regarding President Donald J. Trump's Executive Order establishing the National Council for the American Worker and the American Workforce Policy Advisory Board:

APPLETON, WI ‒ The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) cited Carlos Ketz, who operates as Ketz Roofing, for the sixth time in the past five years for exposing employees to falls. OSHA proposed penalties totaling $48,777. 

OSHA inspectors cited the roofing contractor – based in Menasha, Wisconsin – after observing employees working without adequate fall protection on a commercial building in Appleton.

HASTINGS, FL – A U.S. Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division (WHD) investigation found that Sauceda Contractor Inc., an H-2A farm labor contractor, violated the labor provisions of the H-2A visa program and the Migrant and Seasonal Agricultural Worker Protection Act (MSPA) when it provided farmworkers to harvest cabbage at Barnes Farm in Hastings. As a result, the company has paid $19,847 in back wages to 53 employees, and WHD assessed the employer $5,526 in H-2A and MSPA civil money penalties.

ANN ARBOR, MI – Joak American Homes – operator of seven affiliated homecare companies in Michigan – will pay $125,793 in back wages owed to 58 employees after a U.S. Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division (WHD) investigation found the company violated the overtime requirements of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

PONTE VEDRA BEACH, FL – An investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division (WHD) has determined that Palm Valley Outdoors LLC, a north Florida seafood restaurant, violated child labor provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). WHD issued the restaurant $4,294 in civil money penalties.

In the week ending July 14, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 207,000, a decrease of 8,000 from the previous week's revised level. This is the lowest level for initial claims since December 6, 1969 when it was 202,000. The previous week's level was revised up by 1,000 from 214,000 to 215,000. The 4-week moving average was 220,500, a decrease of 2,750 from the previous week's revised average. The previous week's average was revised up by 250 from 223,000 to 223,250.