State: South Carolina

Type of Award: National Dislocated Worker Grant

Total Amount Approved: $3,223,968

Initial Award Amount Released: $1,074,656

Funding Awarded to: South Carolina Department of Employment and Workforce

Number of Workers Served: Approximately 165

WASHINGTON — U.S. Secretary of Labor Thomas E. Perez issued the following statement about the October 2015 Employment Situation report released today:

"The nation continues to bounce back from our worst economic crisis in generations. October was the most robust month of job growth in 2015, with total nonfarm employment increasing by 271,000.

WASHINGTON — When the government of Paraguay established its Ministry of Labor, Employment and Social Security in 2014, it demonstrated a commitment to tackling important challenges, including combating child labor and strengthening enforcement of its labor laws. To help achieve this goal, it reached out to the U.S. Department of Labor to help build the capacity of its new ministry.

Who: U.S. Secretary of Labor Thomas E. Perez Acting Assistant Secretary of Labor for Veterans' Employment and Training Teresa Gerton Deputy Assistant Secretary of Labor for Disability Employment Policy Jennifer Sheehy

Mass-Granite Inc. faces additional $87K in OSHA penalties for 29 violations

Employer name: Mass-Granite Inc., 49 Knox Trail, Acton, Massachusetts 01720

Employer name: Rockvale Construction LLC, 4108 East Newport Road in Kinzers, Pennsylvania

The inspected worksite was located at 7 Meadow Ridge Road in Temple, Pennsylvania, where new multi-family residential construction is underway.

Citations issued: On Oct. 28, 2015, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration issued Rockvale Construction LLC two willful citations.

WASHINGTON — In an effort to promote inclusive workplaces that welcome the skills and talents of workers with disabilities, the U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Disability Employment Policy signed an alliance agreement today with the Families and Work Institute, a New York-based non-profit that conducts research to inform innovative solutions to the challenges facing today's workplaces, families and communities.

Rule would update Equal Employment Opportunity regulations for first time since 1978

Date of Action: Nov. 3, 2015

Type of Action: Consent Judgment

Name of Defendant: Ideal Discount Market, 250 S. Broad Inc. doing business as Ideal Discount Market; Kaki and Son LLC doing business as Ideal Market #6; Kaki Inc. doing business as Ideal Discount Market #1; Morales Brothers LLC doing business as Ideal Market; Rampart Fuel LLC doing business as Ideal Market; and P.R. Enterprises Inc. doing business as Ideal Discount Market #4; and two individuals Muwafak "Mike" Kaki and Gassan "Jimmy" Kaki.

Participants: The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration's El Paso Area Office and the David L. Carrasco Job Corps Center in El Paso.

CANTON, Ohio — A crane's safety latch failed and 1,000 pounds of equipment fell on a man below and injured him as he worked on the factory floor of TimkenSteel Corp. For the second time in a year, the U.S.

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor has filed a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland against Chimes District of Columbia, Inc., affiliated companies, company executives and employee benefit plan service providers over allegations that an employee benefit plan sponsored by Chimes DC paid millions of dollars in excessive fees. The non-profit Chimes DC employs disabled workers who provide janitorial and custodial services under multiple taxpayer-funded government contracts.

HELENA, Mont. — The U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division has opened a new field office in Helena to connect employees, employers, community organizations and other stakeholders with resources and assistance to ensure compliance with federal labor laws. The new office is located in the Max Baucus Federal Building, at 10 West 15th St., Suite 1800, Helena, MT 59626.

Employer name: M&A Excavating LLC, at 120 Lyons Road in Mertztown, Pennsylvania.

The inspected worksite was located on the 500 block of Main Street in Blandon, Pennsylvania. M&A was contracted by Maidencreek Township to install a new water line from the supply line to a residence.

Employer name: Lorz Construction, Fargo, North Dakota

Citations issued: Oct. 22, 2015

Employer name: IPMF LLC operating as IPM Foods, Beloit, Wisconsin

Citations received: Oct. 30, 2015

Investigation findings: The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration's Madison Area Office cited the food product manufacturer for one willful, 12 serious and one other-than-serious safety violations.

WASHINGTON — Apprenticeship is a proven path for workers into the middle class and an effective strategy for businesses to train for the skills they need. For decades, the skilled trades have led the way in developing and refining apprenticeships in America.

WASHINGTON – Results from the Bureau of Labor Statistics' Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses released today show that private industry employers reported nearly 3 million non-fatal workplace injuries and illnesses in 2014. While the total recordable cases incidence rate fell 0.1 cases per 100 full-time workers, the rates for cases involving days away from work and for cases of job transfer or restriction only were unchanged.

Expansion: Former Hooker Electrochemical Corp. workers may qualify for a presumption of causation if they are included in a designated Special Exposure Cohort class of employees, and were diagnosed with one of 22 specified cancers. For nuclear weapons workers applying for compensation under the Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program Act, a presumption of causation can simplify the process.