WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced the award of a $2 million cooperative agreement to support the improvement of labor conditions and prevent forced labor and child labor in Uzbekistan’s cotton industry.

NEWTON, KS – For many teens, working at a fast-food restaurant is a first job. For 50 teens – ages 14 and 15 – working at three Sonic drive-in locations near Wichita – that meant being employed in excess of the number of hours allowed by child labor laws and during nighttime hours not permitted by law, a U.S. Department of Labor investigation has found. 

WASHINGTON – The unprecedented demands that the pandemic placed on the nation’s nurses – combined with retirements and an aging workforce – have greatly increased the need for nursing workers in the U.S.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that more than 275,000 additional nurses are needed from 2020 to 2030, and that employment opportunities for nurses will grow at 9 percent, faster than all other occupations from 2016 through 2026.

WASHINGTON – U.S. Department of Labor officials gathered with workers, union representatives and labor organizers from a range of industries to discuss the value of building relationships and collaborating on ideas to address workers’ concerns at its Workers’ Voice Summit, Sept. 27-29, 2022.

ATLANTA – The U.S. Department of Labor is asking Florida highway construction industry employers to participate in a survey to help the department’s Wage and Hour Division establish prevailing wage rates, as required by federal law.

TRENTON, NJ -The U.S.

BOSTON – Un servicio de mensajería que supuestamente clasificaba erróneamente a los conductores como contratistas independientes en su sucursal de Shrewsbury y les negaba sus derechos según la Ley de Normas Justas de Trabajo pagará un total de $575,000 en salarios atrasados y daños y perjuicios a los 62 conductores y asegurará el cumplimiento futuro de la FLSA en todas sus sucursales en EE. UU.

BOSTON – A courier service that allegedly misclassified drivers as independent contractors at its Shrewsbury location and denied them their rights under the Fair Labor Standards Act will pay a total of $575,000 in back wages and liquidated damages to the 62 drivers, and ensure future FLSA compliance at all its U.S. locations under a consent judgment the U.S. Department of Labor has obtained.

Date of action:                     Sept. 20, 2022

Type of action:                    Judgement

Names of defendants:     Reza's Tower Inc., also known as Reza Oak Brook Inc.

KANSAS CITY, MO – In two incidents in September, Midwest workers operating riding mowers suffered fatal injuries when the machines rolled over on top of them, prompting the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration to alert employers to train workers of the hazards they face and how to avoid them.

ATLANTA – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration reminds first responders, those involved in rescue and recovery efforts, and residents in areas affected by Hurricane Ian to be vigilant and protect themselves from the many hazards that flooding, power loss, structural damage, fallen trees and storm debris may create.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced an effort to raise awareness of regulations that give coal miners with development of pneumoconiosis, or black lung, the right to work at a section of a mine with lower levels of dust without having their pay reduced or fearing discrimination or termination.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor announced the award of nearly $2 million in grant funding to support efforts by six non-profit organizations to help low wage-earning women understand and exercise their employment rights and benefits.

Participant:   Huber Engineered Woods LLC,  Easton, Maine.

Description:  Huber Engineered Woods, which employs about 135 workers in Easton, manufactures oriented strand board for commercial and residential construction.

In the week ending September 24, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 193,000, a decrease of 16,000 from the previous week's revised level. The previous week's level was revised down by 4,000 from 213,000 to 209,000. The 4-week moving average was 207,000, a decrease of 8,750 from the previous week's revised average. The previous week's average was revised down by 1,000 from 216,750 to 215,750.

TULSA, OK – A federal investigation into the pay practices of a Tulsa security company has recovered $103,979, in back wages for 55 current and former employees denied their rights to overtime pay for hours over 40 in a workweek.

Employer:                                   Heart2Heart Homecare Service Inc.

Investigation site:                  483 John R. Junkin Drive

WHO:                         Marvin

                                  Fargo, North Dakota

SAN JOSE, CA – The U.S. Department of Labor has assessed $139,398, in penalties to a Silicon Valley delivery company that brings consumers specialty foods from well-known restaurants, bakeries, cafes and other California providers for hiring dozens of minor-aged workers as drivers, a prohibited occupation under federal child labor laws.

Participant:   Louisiana Workforce Commission

Address:           Baton Rouge, Louisiana