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.

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.

Date of Action: Nov. 29, 2012

Type of Action: Complaint

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

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

Date of Action: Dec. 12, 2012

ORLANDO, Fla. – The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration has filed a petition against SeaWorld of Florida LLC to comply with administrative subpoenas that require SeaWorld to provide three managers to be interviewed during OSHA's follow-up abatement inspection. SeaWorld has declined to provide personnel to answer questions regarding abatement or correction of a prior violation related to trainers' exposure to struck-by and drowning hazards when engaged in performances with killer whales.

WASHINGTON – Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis today issued the following statement on the death of Sen. Daniel Inouye:

"I want to express my deepest and most heartfelt condolences to the family and friends of my former congressional colleague, Sen. Daniel Inouye. Words cannot express how saddened I was to learn of his passing.

"In so many ways, Sen. Inouye has influenced my career in public service. During my very first days on Capitol Hill, I remember thinking about the legacy he had already created – and about how I could learn from him.

Company agrees to pay back wages to nearly 2,000 female job applicants and offer jobs to at least 700 class members

LOS ANGELES — Clougherty Packing Co., a federal contractor and subsidiary of Hormel Food Corp., has settled allegations of systemic hiring discrimination against female job applicants following an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs.

Federal judge orders payment following US Department of Labor lawsuit against San Francisco grocer

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of International Labor Affairs today awarded $10 million for a cooperative agreement with the International Rescue Committee to combat child labor in Tanzania. The project will target regions where there is a prevalence of child labor in agriculture and domestic service.

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of International Labor Affairs has awarded a $5 million cooperative agreement to Counterpart International to combat child labor in Burkina Faso. The project will target child labor in cotton production and gold mining, focusing on the northern area of the Haute Bassins, the Boucle de Mouhoun and the northern and central-northern Cascades.

WASHINGTON – Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis today announced the appointments of five new members to the 2013 Advisory Council on Employee Welfare and Pension Benefit Plans – known as the ERISA Advisory Council. She also announced the incoming chair and vice chair of the council.

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of International Labor Affairs today introduced Reducing Child Labor and Forced Labor: A Toolkit for Responsible Businesses, the first guide developed by the U.S. government to help businesses combat child labor and forced labor in their global supply chains.

FAIRFAX, Va. – The U.S. Department of Labor has filed a lawsuit against Innovative Logistics Techniques Inc.

FAIRFAX, Va. – The U.S. Department of Labor has filed a lawsuit against Innovative Logistics Techniques Inc. for violating the Employee Retirement Income Security Act by failing to remit worker contributions and participant loan repayments to the company’s 401(k) plan.

WPAC meeting scheduled for Jan. 29, 2013