WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking to expand the opportunity to offer employment-based health insurance to small businesses through Small Business Health Plans, also known as Association Health Plans.

In the week ending December 30, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 250,000, an increase of 3,000 from the previous week's revised level. The previous week's level was revised up by 2,000 from 245,000 to 247,000. The 4-week moving average was 241,750, an increase of 3,500 from the previous week's revised average. The previous week's average was revised up by 500 from 237,750 to 238,250.

KANSAS CITY, MO – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has signed an alliance to promote employee safety and health with the North Central States District Council of Ironworkers, the Ironworkers District Council of St. Louis and Vicinity, and Iowa OSHA.

EAU CLAIRE, WI – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and Miron Construction Company Inc. have signed a strategic partnership to promote worker safety and health on the dormitory renovation project at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire.

SEATTLE, WA – The U.S. Department of Labor has reached an agreement with a Tacoma property management company that requires the employer to pay 71 employees $255,793 in back wages to resolve Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) violations.

WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Secretary of Labor Alexander Acosta issued the following statement on the start of Human Trafficking Awareness Month:

CHICAGO, IL – A mechanic who alleged he was terminated after voicing concerns about unsafe working conditions at a bowling center in Lombard will receive a total of $40,000 in back wages as part of a consent judgment signed by the employer with the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).

PHILADELPHIA, Pa. - With record snowfalls in Pennsylvania and Western New York, along with frigid temperatures in the Northeast and Midwest, the U.S. Labor Department’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is urging all those involved in snow removal and cleanup to take precautions and focus on safety.

SAIPAN, NORTHERN MARIANA ISLANDS – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has cited USA Fanter for serious confined space violations after three employees died from exposure to hydrogen sulfide gas.

On July 7, 2017, USA Fanter employees were working in and around a well that was not identified as a permit-required confined space. When one employee was overcome by fumes after entering the well, two other employees attempted to rescue him, and were also overcome by the gas.

APOLLO BEACH, FL – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has cited Tampa Electric Co. and Gaffin Industrial Services Inc. after five employees were fatally injured, and one other suffered serious burns.

In the week ending December 23, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 245,000, unchanged from the previous week's unrevised level of 245,000. The 4-week moving average was 237,750, an increase of 1,750 from the previous week's unrevised average of 236,000.

LOS ANGELES, CA – Investigations in Southern California by the U.S. Department of Labor have found $1.6 million in back wages and liquidated damages due to 1,377 garment industry employees since January. Those amounts resulted from violations of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) found in 94 percent of 129 Wage and Hour Division investigations of garment facilities in the region during that period.

The Department also assessed an additional $36,000 in civil money penalties associated with those investigations.

CHICAGO, IL – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) cited three Chicago area companies that worked on the renovation of Chicago’s Old Post Office for failing to protect employees from lead and cadmium exposure. The companies face a total of 31 citations and proposed penalties of $220,497.

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced nearly $60 million in grants to NGOs and a range of organizations to promote labor law enforcement and help end exploitative labor practices in 25 trade partner countries. The grants will support projects to combat some of the most abusive labor practices, including the use of child labor, forced labor, and human trafficking in global supply chains. New technical assistance will also support trade partners’ compliance with the labor requirements of U.S. trade agreements and preference programs.

MANCHESTER, NH – The U.S. Department of Labor has reached a settlement with a Maine vegetable farm after an investigation found that it willfully violated terms of the H-2B non-immigrant visa program under the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA). Under the settlement agreement, Green Thumb Farms Inc. of Fryeburg has paid $10,164 in penalties to the Department and agreed to comply with the law, applicable H-2B regulations, and the obligations agreed and attested to in all of its temporary employment certification applications.

WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Secretary of Labor Alexander Acosta issued the following statement today regarding President Trump’s signing of tax reform legislation:

“Tax reform will continue the strong economic growth we’ve seen this year. Tax reform is about job creation and is great news for any American who has a job, is looking for a job, or creates jobs.

CHARLESTON, WV – The U.S. Department of Labor and a West Virginia nursing home and rehabilitation company have reached an agreement to resolve alleged overtime violations of the federal Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

Stonerise Healthcare LLC will pay $61,840 in back wages and an equal amount in liquidated damages to 498 healthcare employees at 16 facilities in West Virginia.

ATGLEN, PA – The U.S. Department of Labor and a Pennsylvania manufacturing company reached an agreement to resolve alleged overtime, recordkeeping, and child labor violations of the federal Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

Stoltzfus Structures LLC will pay $188,572 in back wages and an equal amount in liquidated damages to 47 employees. The company also has been assessed, and has not contested, a penalty in the amount of $30,800 for violations of the child labor provisions of the FLSA.

FOSTORIA, OH – Nox US LLC, an Ohio manufacturer of luxury vinyl tile, faces $514,236 in proposed penalties after inspectors from the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) cited the company for machine safety violations.

CONCORD, NH – A New Hampshire man has pleaded guilty in federal court to one count of obstruction of justice in connection with a U.S. Department of Labor wage and hour investigation and litigation. It is believed to be the first federal criminal prosecution arising from a Department wage and hour investigation in New Hampshire.