WASHINGTON – The Jan. 21 edition of the Federal Register will contain a U.S. Department of Labor Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking on occupational exposure to diacetyl and food flavorings containing diacetyl.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a $250,000 Regional Innovation Grant to a 12-county area encompassing western Kentucky, northwestern Tennessee and southern Illinois. Led by the West Kentucky Workforce Investment Board, area leaders will establish a regional strategic plan that promotes economic growth and is prepared for dislocation events.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today awarded nearly $123 million to 68 community colleges and community-based institutions that competed successfully under the President's Community-Based Job Training Grants Initiative. Awardees were chosen from among 274 applications received in response to a competition announced Oct. 10, 2008.

"The $123 million awarded today will expand enrollment in education and training programs, and provide more workers with the skills they need to succeed," said Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao.

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Labor-Management Standards (OLMS) today announced that on Jan. 21 a final regulation will be published in the Federal Register to update the Form LM-2. The changes will ensure that relevant information on union finances is provided to rank-and-file union members to better ensure transparency and accountability as required by the Labor-Management Reporting and Disclosure Act of 1959 (LMRDA).

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor today announced that it has paid more than $4.5 billion to 48,072 individuals under the Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program Act (EEOICPA). The EEOICPA provides compensation and medical benefits to employees who became ill as a result of working in the atomic weapons industry.

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor's Frances Perkins Building, a two million-square-foot office building, recently was cited for earning the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) prestigious Energy Star, the national symbol for superior energy efficiency and environmental protection.

To qualify for the designation, a facility or building must use an average of 40 percent less energy and release 35 percent less carbon dioxide into the environment compared with typical buildings.

WASHINGTON — A U.S. Department of Labor-led interagency work group to increase the number of people with disabilities in the federal workforce was formed this week as part of a continuing commitment to encouraging opportunities for workers with disabilities.

The initiative was established by Disability Employment Policy Assistant Secretary of Labor Neil Romano under the direction of Labor Secretary Elaine L. Chao, resulting in 18 federal agencies sending representatives to the initial working meeting.

Archived News Release — Caution: Information may be out of date.

Tallahassee, Florida – A free health law compliance assistance seminar for employers, plan fiduciaries and plan services providers, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA) and the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation, will take place January 28 and 29 at the Doubletree Hotel Tallahassee, 101 South Adams St. in Tallahassee.

Archived News Release — Caution: Information may be out of date.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a $6 million grant to the state of California to fund approximately 353 temporary jobs to assist with continued cleanup efforts following the 2008 Southern California wildfires.

"This $6 million grant will fund temporary jobs for workers to help communities cleanup and recover from the southern California wildfires," said Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a $1,891,738 grant to assist approximately 651 trade-affected workers of Hynix Semiconductor Manufacturing America Inc. in Eugene, Ore.

"This $1.9 million grant will provide these Oregonians with skills training that will help them attain positions in the health care and information technology industries," said Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced nearly $5.5 million in awards to 18 faith-based and community organizations (FBCOs) as part of the President's Prisoner Re-entry Initiative (PRI). Each chosen group was awarded more than $300,000.

"These $5.5 million in grants will advance local faith-based and community organization efforts to equip ex-prisoners with basic job skills, counseling and opportunities to earn an honest living in our communities," said Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao.

UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE WEEKLY CLAIMS REPORT

SEASONALLY ADJUSTED DATA In the week ending Jan. 10, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 524,000, an increase of 54,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 470,000. The 4-week moving average was 518,500, a decrease of 8,000 from the previous week's revised average of 526,500.

The advance seasonally adjusted insured unemployment rate was 3.4 percent for the week ending Jan. 3, unchanged from the prior week's unrevised rate of 3.4 percent.

SAN FRANCISCO — Nestle Prepared Foods Co., a division of Nestle U.S.A., has paid nearly $5.1 million in back wages to more than 6,000 current and former workers following an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division.

"The department during this administration has achieved record recoveries for workers who had not been paid all the wages they were owed," said Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao. "This case has resulted in over $5 million in back wages being paid to 6,000 workers."

WASHINGTON — Deputy Undersecretary for International Affairs Charlotte M. Ponticelli today announced that the U.S. Department of Labor is presenting the first annual Iqbal Masih Award for the Elimination of Child Labor to Maria Cecilia Flores-Oebanda of the Philippines. Flores-Oebanda, president and executive director of the Visayan Forum Foundation Inc.

Archived News Release — Caution: Information may be out of date.

Washington – The U.S. Department of Labor and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) today released a new publication to help small employers understand automatic enrollment for 401(k) plans offered to their employees. Automatic Enrollment 401(k) Plans for Small Businesses provides a comprehensive overview of the advantages of starting and operating this type of 401(k) arrangement.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a $528,722 grant to assist workers affected by layoffs at Prime Tanning Co. Inc. in Berwick, Maine. Layoffs occurred on Sept. 29, 2008, and all production has since ceased at the Berwick facility.

"Today's grant will provide affected Maine workers with the necessary training and employment services to help their re-employment prospects in area industries," said Deputy Assistant Secretary for Employment and Training Brent R. Orrell.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a $720,000 grant to the state of Indiana to create temporary jobs for cleanup and recovery efforts as a result of storms and flooding in September.

"The storms that hit Indiana this fall continue to affect Hoosiers up and down the state," said Deputy Assistant Secretary of Labor for Employment and Training Brent R. Orrell. "Today's grant will provide those affected with temporary jobs to help communities recover from the damage caused by the storms and flooding."

Archived News Release — Caution: Information may be out of date.

Minneapolis – The U.S. Department of Labor has filed a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court in Minneapolis to appoint an independent fiduciary to oversee the Nat Joseph Catering Inc. 401(k) Plan.

Archived News Release — Caution: Information may be out of date.

Atlanta – The U.S. Department of Labor has sued Mark Possein and National Marketing and Entertainment Group Inc. (NMEG) in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, for misusing $68,424 of plan assets to benefit the company and other entities between January 2003 and May 2005 in violation of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA).