Agreement covers Alabama, Arkansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi and Missouri

NUEVA ORLEANS — The U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division and the consulate general of Honduras today in New Orleans signed an agreement of understanding to combine resources and coordinate efforts to inform employers about the laws enforced by the department and to educate Honduran nationals working in Arkansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi and Missouri about their rights under United States law.

Date of Action: May 10, 2013

Type of Action: Consent Order and Judgment

Name of Defendant: John A. Levy

Allegations: Levy, in his capacity as a fiduciary to the Romaine Inc. 401(k) Plan, failed to remit $10,286.41 in employee contributions and loan repayments to plan during periods from Jan. 5, 2007, through April 29, 2011. In addition, Levy failed to remit employee contributions and loan repayments to the plan in a timely manner during the same period.

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of International Labor Affairs is seeking eligible applicants for a $10 million cooperative agreement on a project to address child labor, labor rights and working conditions in the Dominican Republic's agricultural sector, including in sugarcane and production supply chains.

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of International Labor Affairs will award up to $5 million under a competitive grant solicitation for one or more cooperative agreements to address child labor and exploitative working conditions in Rwanda's tea sector. The project will have an area-based approach that targets children, families and workers who are susceptible to child labor.

Date of Action: May 10, 2013

Type of Action: Consent Order and Judgment

Names of Defendant: Ruby J. Black, individually and as a fiduciary to the Fresh Start Inc. 401(k) Plan and the Fresh Start, Inc. 401(k) Plan.

WASHINGTON – Job Corps students and instructors from Vermont and Utah used recycling and sustainability in creating unique, handcrafted awards honoring the service and dedication of U.S. Department of Labor employees who are recipients of the 2013 Secretary of Labor's Honor Awards.

Miner who filed discrimination complaint to receive $115,000

ARLINGTON, Va. – The U.S. Department of Labor's Mine Safety and Health Administration today announced that New Elk Coal Co. has agreed to pay approximately $115,000 to a miner whose employment was terminated shortly after he filed a hazard complaint. The company also has agreed to pay MSHA a civil penalty of $10,000.

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division and the franchisor of the world's largest restaurant chain are collaborating to increase compliance with federal labor laws at SUBWAY locations nationwide. Although these restaurants are independently owned and operated, the franchisor is providing a forum and resources to assist the division in educating franchisees.

Date of Action: May 7, 2013

Type of Action: Consent Judgment and Order

Name(s) of Defendant(s): First Restoration Services, Inc. and Frank Headen

ARLINGTON, Va. – The U.S. Department of Labor's Mine Safety and Health Administration today announced that it has reached a settlement of $211,002 with U.S. Lime Co. in the May 2010 death of a maintenance manager at St. Clair Mine in Marble City, Okla. The settlement involves 39 citations and orders issued in the wake of the accident and during subsequent mine inspections.

WASHINGTON — Acting Secretary of Labor Seth D. Harris and acting U.S. Trade Representative Demetrios Marantis today announced that the United States has requested consultations with the Government of the Kingdom of Bahrain under the Labor Chapter of the United States — Bahrain Free Trade Agreement. The request follows a December 2012 report by the U.S. Department of Labor that highlighted labor issues stemming from the Government of Bahrain's response to civil unrest in early 2011 in Bahrain and recommended actions to address those issues.

WASHINGTON — Members of the public are invited to participate in an online dialogue to examine the impact of existing federal regulations and legislation on the successful transition from school to work of youths and young adults with disabilities. The U.S. departments of Labor, Education, and Health and Human Services and the Social Security Administration will host the event May 13-27, and they invite policymakers, service providers, the advocacy community and others to join this conversation to improve transition outcomes.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor's Employee Benefits Security Administration today announced an advance notice of proposed rulemaking focusing on lifetime income illustrations given to participants in defined contribution pension plans such as 401(k) and 403(b) plans. The ANPRM provides an opportunity for stakeholders to provide early input into the development of regulations.

Date of Action: May 3, 2013

Type of Action: Consent Judgment and Order

Names of Defendant: Timothy Masek and Grand Craft LLC as fiduciaries to the Grand Craft LLC 401(k) Plan in Grand Rapids, Mich.

Allegations: Masek and Grand Craft LLC, in their capacity as fiduciaries failed to remit and timely remit 2008 and 2009 participant contributions to the Grand Craft LLC 401(k) Plan.  These funds remained part of the company’s general assets and were used for business expenses.

Date of Action: May 6, 2013

Type of Action: Complaint and consent order and judgment

Name(s) of Defendant (s): Dr. Robert B. Chambliss and Robert B. Chambliss, M.D., PLLC

BROUSSARD, La. — Hutco Inc., a major industrial services employment agency, has agreed to pay $1,916,850 in back wages to 2,267 employees assigned to client work sites throughout Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas. An investigation conducted by the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division found that the company utilized improper pay and record-keeping practices that resulted in employees being denied overtime compensation in violation of the Fair Labor Standards Act.

WASHINGTON — An open meeting of the Advisory Council on Employee Welfare and Pension Benefit Plans, also known as the ERISA Advisory Council, will take place June 4-6 at the U.S. Department of Labor, 200 Constitution Ave. NW, Washington, D.C. 20210.

On June 4, the meeting will be held in Suite N-4437. On June 5-6, it will be held in Suite C-5521, Room 4. It will run from 9 a.m. to approximately 5:30 p.m. EDT June 4-5 and from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. EDT June 6.

WASHINGTON – Acting Secretary of Labor Seth D. Harris issued the following statement about the April 2013 Employment Situation report released today:

14 minority job applicants in Jefferson, La., to receive back pay, job offers

JEFFERSON, La. — Bertucci Contracting Co. LLC, a federal construction contractor, has settled allegations of hiring discrimination against minority job applicants at its Jefferson facility.

TULSA, Okla. – The U.S. Department of Labor has sued Tulsa-based dentist Dr. Debra S. Gill and her company, Debra S. Gill, DDS, PC in an effort to recover more than $15,000 in employee retirement funds. The department’s lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court in Oklahoma, alleges that Gill violated the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 by using assets belonging to the employee retirement plan for the benefit of the company.