WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor's Employment and Training Administration today announced the release of an industry competency model for geospatial technology. There are now 16 models available on the Competency Model Clearinghouse available through the department's One-Stop Career Centers website.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today launched an online registry allowing the public to retrieve information about temporary agricultural jobs that fall under the H-2A program. The new tool was developed in compliance with regulations implemented by the department on March 15.

SEASONALLY ADJUSTED DATA In the week ending July 3, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 454,000, a decrease of 21,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 475,000. The 4-week moving average was 466,000, a decrease of 1,250 from the previous week's revised average of 467,250.

The advance seasonally adjusted insured unemployment rate was 3.4 percent for the week ending June 26, a decrease of 0.2 percentage point from the prior week's unrevised rate of 3.6 percent.

retirement plan

Concord, New Hampshire – The U.S. Department of Labor has obtained a consent judgment ordering Eric C. Mitchell & Associates Inc. and Eric C. Mitchell to restore $20,723 in funds to the Bedford, N.H., company's 401(k) retirement plan. The defendants served, respectively, as the plan's sponsor and administrator, and as its trustee.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration today announced it has resolved litigation with Imperial Sugar Co. stemming from the February 2008 explosion at its Port Wentworth, Ga., plant and subsequently discovered safety and health violations at the company's Gramercy, La., facility.

WASHINGTON – U.S. Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health Dr. David Michaels today issued the following statement regarding training for Gulf Coast oil spill clean-up:

"Employees hired to be supervisors in the onshore and marine cleanup are required to receive extensive training. A rigorous 40-hour program is required under OSHA's Hazardous Waste Operation and Emergency Response Standard.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today certified for release $43,625,769 in unemployment insurance modernization incentive funds to the state of Nebraska. Nebraska qualified for its full share of the funds available under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act by adding new provisions to its UI law that assist recent entrants to the workforce, part-time workers and people who are upgrading their skills.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration is soliciting applications for $2.75 million in Susan Harwood Targeted Topic Training Grants to provide training and education programs on safety and health for workers and their employers. For fiscal year 2010, the program offers 28 targeted topic areas including crane safety, combustible dust, maritime, oil and gas, and eye safety.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor's solicitor today filed a complaint against the U.S. Postal Service for electrical work safety violations. The complaint, which asks the Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission to order USPS to correct electrical violations at 350 facilities, marks the first time the department has sought enterprise-wide relief as a remedy.

WASHINGTON – At the direction of Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis, July 7 through 9, three U.S. Department of Labor agency heads will travel to Gulf states impacted by the BP Deepwater spill. The delegation will include Assistant Secretary of Labor for Employment and Training Jane Oates, Wage and Hour Division Deputy Administrator Nancy J. Leppink and Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs Director Patricia A. Shiu.

Washington – Assistant Secretary of Labor Phyllis C. Borzi today issued the following statement regarding the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA) and the premium reduction under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA):

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor's Employee Benefits Security Administration today adopted a final amendment that allows qualified professional asset managers to act as QPAMs for their own employee benefit plans provided certain additional conditions are met.

"We have updated the exemption to expand the investment opportunities available to plans sponsored by QPAMs while protecting the plans' assets," said Phyllis C. Borzi, assistant secretary of labor for EBSA.

New York – The U.S. Department of Labor has obtained a final consent order permanently barring Leonard Slutsky and Sharlene Slutsky from control over or serving in positions of responsibility to employee benefit plans governed by the Employee Retirement Income Security Act, except as outlined in the court order.

WASHINGTON – U.S. Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis issued the following statement on the June 2010 Employment Situation report released today:

WASHINGTON – Secretary Solis today issued the following statement on the introduction of the Miner Safety and Health Act of 2010 (H.R. 5663) in the U.S. House of Representatives:

WASHINGTON – U.S. Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis today accompanied President Obama during a speech at American University in Washington, where the president called for comprehensive immigration reform. Secretary Solis issued the following statement in support of the president's message:

"There are defining moments in a nation's history, when its leaders are called upon to act decisively and irrespective of party or geography. This is such a moment.

WASHINGTON – U.S. Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis issued the following statement on the death of an electrician at the Pocahontas Mine in West Virginia:

"I offer my heartfelt condolences to the family and friends of the mine worker in West Virginia who lost his life today. In 2010, no worker should lose his or her life simply because they showed up for work. We know that accidents are preventable when proper safety procedures are followed, and when mine operators make a serious commitment to providing for the safety and health of their workers.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor announced a grant of $1,573,542 to assist about 385 migrant and seasonal farmworkers affected by layoffs at numerous orchards and farms in New Jersey, New York, Ohio and Pennsylvania, as well as in the territory of Puerto Rico.

"This grant will help ensure that migrant and seasonal farmworkers do not fall through the cracks, and give them access to the re-employment and retraining services needed to find jobs in emerging local industries," said Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis.

SEASONALLY ADJUSTED DATA In the week ending June 26, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 472,000, an increase of 13,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 459,000. The 4-week moving average was 466,500, an increase of 3,250 from the previous week's revised average of 463,250.

The advance seasonally adjusted insured unemployment rate was 3.6 percent for the week ending June 19, unchanged from the prior week's revised rate of 3.6 percent.

Fresno, California – The U.S. Department of Labor has sued Explore General Inc. and its officers for allegedly failing to forward more than $70,000 in employee contributions and to collect more than $100,000 in employer contributions owed to the company’s 401(k) plan in violation of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act.