WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a $300,000 National Emergency Grant to assist with cleanup and recovery efforts in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy.

"We are committed to helping the citizens of West Virginia recover from the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy," said Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis. "Today's grant will assist with cleanup and repair of the state's infrastructure and help those affected by Hurricane Sandy to return to normalcy."

ARLINGTON, Va. – The U.S. Department of Labor's Mine Safety and Health Administration today announced that federal inspectors issued 285 citations, 11 orders and two safeguards during special impact inspections conducted at nine coal mines and seven metal/nonmetal mines last month.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced the award of a $105,600 National Emergency Grant supplement to the Georgia Department of Labor. The supplement will enable the state to continue funding partial premium payments for health insurance coverage for qualified jobless workers and expand the number of people served under the grant to about 460.

SEASONALLY ADJUSTED DATA In the week ending December 22, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 350,000, a decrease of 12,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 362,000. The 4-week moving average was 356,750, a decrease of 11,250 from the previous week's revised average of 368,000.

WASHINGTON — U.S. Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis today announced a $1.5 million grant award to strengthen labor rights in Colombia. The grant awarded by U.S Department of Labor's Bureau of International Labor Affairs will fund a project implemented by the Escuela Nacional Sindical.

WASHINGTON — U.S. Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis today announced a $2.2 million grant award to strengthen worker organizations in Haiti and Peru. The grant awarded by the U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of International Labor Affairs will fund projects implemented by the American Center for International Labor Solidarity, also known as the Solidarity Center.

OSHA finds Orlando, Fla., employer in violation of OSH Act's Section 11(c)

Funds will assist workers in Alabama, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Maryland, Mississippi, South Carolina and Virginia

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced the award of a $1,058,254 National Emergency Grant supplement to provide qualified jobless workers with partial premium payments for health insurance coverage and to expand the number of states and people served.

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of International Labor Affairs awarded a $5 million cooperative agreement to the International Labor Organization for a project to support efforts to reduce child domestic work by building the capacity of domestic worker organizations and promoting decent work for domestic workers in four provinces of Indonesia.

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor today announced the award of two new cooperative agreements to support efforts by the governments of Ecuador and Panama to combat child labor among vulnerable groups. Both projects include a focus on children from Afro-descendant, indigenous and migrant populations.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced the award of a $1.2 million National Emergency Grant supplement to WorkForce West Virginia. The supplement will enable the state to continue funding partial premium payments for health insurance coverage for qualified unemployed individuals and expand the number of people served.

SEASONALLY ADJUSTED DATA In the week ending December 15, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 361,000, an increase of 17,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 344,000. The 4-week moving average was 367,750, a decrease of 13,750 from the previous week's unrevised average of 381,500.

WASHINGTON — Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis today released a report on Bahrain's compliance with its labor commitments under the U.S.-Bahrain Free Trade Agreement. The report concludes that, while the government of Bahrain has instituted important mechanisms to address issues stemming from the 2011 unrest in Bahrain, it appears to have acted inconsistently with the Labor Chapter of the FTA in its response to that unrest.

ROCKVILLE, Md. — The U.S. Department of Labor has sued Sun Control Systems Inc., the estate of former company president John Buckingham Sr., and current president Thomas Buckingham, to restore assets to the company’s three employee benefit plans. This follows an Employee Benefits Security Administration investigation that revealed alleged violations of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act.

Date of Action: Nov. 29, 2012

Type of Action: Complaint

Name of Defendant: Progressive Machine Co. Inc. 401(k) plan

WASHINGTON — Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis today announced a $5.35 million grant to support efforts by the governments of Brazil and Peru to combat forced labor, including forced child labor. The grant awarded by the U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of International Labor Affairs will fund a project implemented by the International Labor Organization.

Wage and Hour Division personnel find systemic wage violations at 3 locations

MIAMI — Auto Cricket Corp., doing business as AutoCricket.com, has agreed to pay 414 employees a total of $76,589 in back wages following an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division personnel that found violations of the Fair Labor Standards Act's minimum wage and overtime provisions. The investigation included two AutoCricket locations in Riviera Beach and Cordele, Ga.

Date of Action: Dec. 12, 2012

CHICAGO – A federal court in Chicago has ordered John Dombek III and John Dombek Jr. to restore a total of $69,521.31 in health care premiums and retirement plan contributions withheld from the paychecks of employees at several companies that are part of the JJD Industries Group in Schiller Park, Ill. The judgment resolves a lawsuit filed by the U.S. Labor Department based on the findings of an investigation by the department’s Employee Benefits Security Administration.