WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor has announced a proposed 18-month extension from January 1, 2018, to July 1, 2019, of the special transition period for the Fiduciary Rule’s Best Interest Contract (BIC) Exemption and the Principal Transactions Exemption, and certain amendments to Prohibited Transaction Exemption 84-24.

In the week ending August 26, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 236,000, an increase of 1,000 from the previous week's revised level. The previous week's level was revised up by 1,000 from 234,000 to 235,000. The 4-week moving average was 236,750, a decrease of 1,250 from the previous week's revised average. The previous week's average was revised up by 250 from 237,750 to 238,000.

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor has announced an update on employee benefit plan compliance for those impacted by Hurricane Harvey.

“Our deepest and most immediate concern is for those who are in harm’s way, and for the first responders who will work tirelessly to help those affected,” said U.S. Secretary of Labor Alexander Acosta. “We also realize that employers and employees impacted by Hurricane Harvey will need assistance in dealing with employee benefits issues arising from disruptions in banking and payroll processing.”

WASHINGTON, DC — As part of its commitment to state and local partners impacted by Hurricane Harvey, the U.S. Department of Labor has approved an initial $10 million National Dislocated Worker Grant to assist with cleanup and recovery efforts in Texas.

MARSHFIELD, WI – A Wisconsin manufacturer of steel pipes and tubes faces $110,458 in proposed penalties after U.S. Department of Labor Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) inspectors responded to a complaint and found 13 serious safety and health violations at the company’s Marshfield facility.

NEW YORK, NY – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and Skanska Walsh Joint Venture have entered into a strategic partnership to enhance workplace safety and health for approximately 1,600 employees working on the LaGuardia Airport Central Terminal Building Redevelopment Project.

ST. LOUIS, MO – A successful partnership to reduce safety incidents, injuries, and lost work time for St. Louis area masons has been renewed for a new three-year term by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the Mason Contractors’ Association of St. Louis (MCA).

EMERY, SD – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has cited First Dakota Enterprises Inc., for failing to protect its workers from trench collapse hazards.  The Fort Pierre-based company faces proposed penalties of $95,064.

On May 23, 2017, a 34-year-old worker was completely buried when the walls of a 14-foot trench collapsed around him. Co-workers quickly freed the victim’s head, which allowed him to breathe while emergency personnel worked for more than 30 minutes to free him.

SIMI VALLEY, CA – Today, during remarks at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley, California, U.S. Secretary of Labor Alexander Acosta announced that U.S. President Ronald Reagan will be inducted into the U.S. Department of Labor Hall of Honor.

In the week ending August 19, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 234,000, an increase of 2,000 from the previous week's unrevised level of 232,000. The 4-week moving average was 237,750, a decrease of 2,750 from the previous week's unrevised average of 240,500.

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor will hold informational meetings in New Mexico and Utah for former and current workers in the uranium industry and their survivors. Federal representatives will be on-hand to provide information about the medical benefits available under the Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program Act (EEOICPA).

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor announced $80 million in grants will be awarded to YouthBuild, a pre-apprenticeship program for at-risk individuals ages 16-to-24.

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor will hold informational meetings in Arizona for current and former nuclear weapons workers, or their survivors, on the Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program Act (EEOICPA). The Radiation Exposure Compensation Act (RECA), administered by the U.S. Department of Justice, will also be discussed.

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA) is soliciting nominations to fill five, three-year vacancies on the Advisory Council on Employee Welfare and Pension Benefit Plans, also known as the ERISA Advisory Council. The deadline to submit nominations is Aug. 31.

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Veterans’ Employment and Training Service (VETS) announced it is accepting public comments on the criteria for the HIRE Vets Medallion Program. A Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) was published in the Federal Register today.

In the week ending August 12, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 232,000, a decrease of 12,000 from the previous week's unrevised level of 244,000. The 4-week moving average was 240,500, a decrease of 500 from the previous week's unrevised average of 241,000.

NEW YORK, NY – The U.S. Department of Labor has reached an agreement with the owner of a Manhattan laser surgery center to pay $5 million to its Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) to resolve violations of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA). The agreement was entered in a consent judgment by the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York.

NEW YORK, NY – A New York paperboard mill faces $357,445 in proposed penalties for exposing workers to 61 safety and health hazards.

NEW YORK, NY – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs has entered into a consent decree with B&H Foto & Electronics Corp. to resolve allegations of systemic hiring, compensation, and promotion discrimination, as well as harassment, at the company’s Brooklyn Navy Yard warehouse.

ATLANTA, GA – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division is conducting a statewide survey of wages paid to workers in Alabama on all active highway construction projects to establish prevailing wage rates required under the Davis-Bacon and Related Acts.