Washington – The U.S. Departments of Labor and the Treasury today announced the publication of a request for information (RFI) soliciting public comments to assist the agencies in determining what steps to take to enhance retirement security for workers in employer-sponsored retirement plans through lifetime annuities or other arrangements that provide a stream of income after retiring. The RFI appears in today’s edition of the Federal Register.

WASHINGTON — Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis today, through a national online discussion with stakeholder groups, the general public and the news media, outlined the president's fiscal year (FY) 2011 budget request for the U.S. Department of Labor, which is built around the vision of "good jobs for everyone." The budget launches innovative ways to prepare workers for 21st century jobs, and makes new investments in programs that protect workers' rights, safety and health in the new economy.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced $225 million in additional funding for the Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP) in fiscal year 2010. This funding was provided in the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2010 to allow SCSEP grantees to immediately address unmet needs for employment and job training among low-income, older American workers.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today called on states to apply for more than $4 billion in unemployment insurance modernization funding made available through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Recovery Act) for those states that expand access to unemployment benefits. These funds can be used by states to pay unemployment insurance benefits and may be used for other defined purposes if appropriated by state legislatures.

WASHINGTON — Officials from the United States and Peru yesterday participated in the first meeting of the Labor Affairs Council that was created under the United States-Peru Trade Promotion Agreement (PTPA). The meeting took place in Lima, Peru.

Workers to recover more than $1 million in overtime back wages

DALLAS — The U.S. Department of Labor today announced the filing of a consent judgment in a case against Pilgrims Pride Corp. the countrys largest poultry processor — recovering $1,001,438 in overtime back wages for 798 former and current processing workers at the companys Dallas facility. The company also agreed to pay for time spent by employees "donning and doffing," or putting on and taking off work-related gear in all processing plants nationwide.

Washington – The U.S. Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services (HHS), and the Treasury today jointly issued new rules providing parity for consumers enrolled in group health plans who need treatment for mental health or substance use disorders.

Washington – Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis today announced the appointment of five new members and new leadership to the 2010 Advisory Council on Employee Welfare and Pension Benefit Plans, also known as the ERISA Advisory Council.

“We appreciate the council members’ contribution of time and expertise in working on issues that affect the retirement and health benefits of America’s workers,” said Secretary Solis.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is proposing to revise its Occupational Injury and Illness Recording and Reporting(recordkeeping) regulation by restoring a column on the OSHA Form 300 to better identify work-related musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs). The rule does not change existing requirements for when and under what circumstances employers must record musculoskeletal disorders on their injury and illness logs.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced that approximately 4,400 workers from companies in nine states – Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island and Texas – are eligible to apply for Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA).

"Through the Trade Adjustment Assistance program, we are leveraging opportunities for displaced workers to acquire the skills needed to secure good jobs in promising areas of their local economies, said Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis."

SEASONALLY ADJUSTED DATA In the week ending Jan. 23, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 470,000, a decrease of 8,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 478,000. The 4-week moving average was 456,250, an increase of 9,500 from the previous week's revised average of 446,750.

The advance seasonally adjusted insured unemployment rate was 3.5 percent for the week ending Jan. 16, a decrease of 0.1 percentage point from the prior week's revised rate of 3.6 percent.

Washington – The U.S. Department of Labor's Employee Benefits Security Administration today announced that the general public can now access online datasets of Form 5500 annual report/returns for approximately 800,000 retirement, health and other employee benefit plans that cover the plan years 1999 through 2008.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor has announced a $2,354,098 National Emergency Grant supplemental award to continue to provide services to about 1,400 workers affected by layoffs in the automotive industry of Rock County, Wis.

"Wisconsinites are striving to recover from major layoffs that struck the automotive industry," said Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis. "This additional funding will ensure that affected workers continue to receive employment services that will lead to good jobs in promising regional industries."

FULTON, Miss. The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has issued three Mueller Industries Inc. subsidiaries in Fulton 128 citations for allegedly exposing workers to safety and health hazards. The privately-held corporation headquartered in Memphis, Tenn., owns and operates 20 facilities located in eight states and two foreign countries.

New York – The U.S. Department of Labor has obtained a default judgment appointing an independent fiduciary to manage the abandoned 401(k) plan of defunct Digitel Solutions for Business Inc. or Empire Telecom Systems Corp., formerly located in Buffalo, New York.

Agency also launches transparency Web site 2 weeks early

WASHINGTON – Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis issued the following statement regarding the Bureau of Labor Statistics report released today on Union Members in 2009:

"Today, the Bureau of Labor Statistics announced that, in 2009, the unionization rate of employed wage and salary workers was 12.3 percent, in essence unchanged from the 12.4 percent rate in 2008. Among private sector employees, the rate dropped to 7.2 percent from 7.6 percent in 2008.

Columbus, Indiana – The U.S. Department of Labor has sued the owner of Hoosier Foot & Ankle LLC, a non-surgical foot and ankle care business in Columbus, for failure to carry out his fiduciary duty to monitor the service provider to the company’s 401(k) plan in violation of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA).

SEASONALLY ADJUSTED DATA In the week ending Jan. 16, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 482,000, an increase of 36,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 446,000. The 4-week moving average was 448,250, an increase of 7,000 from the previous week's revised average of 441,250.

The advance seasonally adjusted insured unemployment rate was 3.5 percent for the week ending Jan. 9, unchanged from the prior week's unrevised rate of 3.5 percent.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced that approximately 4,800 workers from companies in 14 states – Alabama, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Missouri, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia and Washington – are eligible to apply for Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA).