WASHINGTON, DC – As the U.S. Department of Labor continues efforts to confront visa program fraud and abuse, the Department announced that it will publish updates to the H-1B Labor Condition Application (Form ETA-9035) and worker complaint form (Form WH-4). These changes are intended to improve H-1B program compliance and promote greater transparency regarding the employment of foreign temporary workers.

The Labor Condition Application form updates will require employers to provide more detailed information about H-1B worker employment conditions, including:

DALLAS, TX – The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has cited Venture Metals LLC – based in Dallas, Texas – for exposing employees to crushing hazards after a stack of pipes fell and crushed a worker, leading to his hospitalization. The company faces penalties of $311,580 for repeated and serious safety and health violations.

WASHINGTON, DC - As part of its annual commemoration of National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM), the U.S. Department of Labor today launched a new public service announcement (PSA) that highlights the importance of helping workers who become ill or injured remain active in America's workforce.

PANAMA CITY, FL – U.S. Secretary of Labor Alexander Acosta met today with job creators and workers in a roundtable discussion with the Panama City Beach Chamber of Commerce and the Bay County Chamber of Commerce as the region recovers from Hurricane Michael. Secretary Acosta then visited a FEMA Center in Mexico Beach that works to sign-up local residents for recovery assistance.

BAINBRIDGE, GA – U.S. Secretary of Labor Alexander Acosta met today with job creators and workers in Georgia who are recovering from Hurricane Michael. During a visit to Bainbridge, he participated in a roundtable discussion with members of the Bainbridge-Decatur Chamber of Commerce.

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor has published employee benefit plan compliance guidance and relief for victims of Hurricanes Florence and Michael.

The Department recognizes that plan fiduciaries, employers, labor organizations, service providers, and participants and beneficiaries may encounter issues complying with the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) over the next few months as the consequences of Hurricane Florence and Hurricane Michael unfold.

PHILADELPHIA, PA – The U.S. Department of Labor has reached an agreement with federal contractor Coastal International Security Inc. – a security services company based in Stafford, Virginia – that requires the company to pay $409,947 in back wages and interest to settle allegations of systemic hiring discrimination.

EL PASO, TEXAS – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the El Paso Association of Contractors (EPAC) have signed an alliance to help protect the safety and health of construction workers in El Paso, Texas.

SELMA, AL – The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has cited Globe Metallurgical Inc. – based in Beverly, Ohio – for personal protective equipment violations after an employee suffered fatal injuries at a facility in Selma, Alabama.

In the week ending October 20, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 215,000, an increase of 5,000 from the previous week's unrevised level of 210,000. The 4-week moving average was 211,750, unchanged from the previous week's unrevised average of 211,750.

ROSEVILLE, MN - The U.S. Department of Labor has reached a settlement with A'viands Food & Service Management requiring the federal contractor to pay $399,000 in back pay and interest to 98 female employees to resolve pay discrimination violations found at its Roseville, Minnesota, facility.

MANCHESTER, NH - The U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division (WHD) will present an educational forum about developments in its policies and regulations, and its Payroll Audit Independent Determination (PAID) Program, in Concord, New Hampshire, on November 6, 2018.

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor's Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA) has developed compliance assistance resources to help protect employee benefits. EBSA's goal is to help workers by restoring plan assets and securing the payment of promised benefits, and to help employee benefit officials understand the law. These tools give employee benefit plans the ability to self-correct violations, and further the goals of the Department's recently announced Office of Compliance Initiatives (OCI) to encourage and facilitate compliance.

SELMA, NC – After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division (WHD), Johnson County Industries Inc. – based in Selma, North Carolina – has paid $50,303 in back wages to 92 employees for failing to meet requirements of the Workforce Innovation Opportunity Act (WIOA) and Section 14(c) provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

PARKLAND, FL – The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has cited C.W. Hendrix Farms Inc. for failing to protect workers from recognized hazards after lightning struck and killed an employee at the Parkland, Florida, farm.

OSHA inspectors determined that Hendrix Farms exposed employees to lightning strikes as they picked vegetables in inclement weather. The company faces a penalty of $12,934, the maximum amount allowed.

NEW ORLEANS, LA – After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division (WHD), Parking Management Services Inc. and Valet Management Services Inc. – valet parking companies based in New Orleans, Louisiana – have paid $97,869 in back wages and an equal amount in liquidated damages to 811 employees for violations of the Fair Labor Standards Act's (FLSA) overtime requirements. WHD also assessed the companies $133,815 in civil money penalties due to the repeat nature of the violations.

ARLINGTON, VA – Seven months after taking action to strengthen enforcement efforts regarding delinquent fines and mine violations, the U.S. Department of Labor's Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) announced today that 49 mine operators have either taken steps to enter into payment agreements or satisfied their delinquent debts, resulting in $5.2 million in recovered fines.

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Departments of the Treasury, Health and Human Services, and Labor today issued a proposed regulation that expands the usability of health reimbursement arrangements (HRAs). HRAs are designed to give working Americans and their families greater control over their healthcare by providing an additional way for employers to finance quality, affordable health insurance.

STERLING HEIGHTS, MI – After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division (WHD), Integrated Living Inc. – based in Sterling Heights, Michigan – will pay $173,787 in back wages and liquidated damages to 52 current and former employees for violations of the overtime requirements of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) at the Michigan residential care facility.

ELYSBURG, PA - The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has cited Toy Factory TX LLC – doing business as The Toy Factory LLC – for workplace safety violations after an employee suffered an arm amputation while cleaning machinery at the company’s Elysburg, Pennsylvania, plant. OSHA proposed $112,523 in penalties.