WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor's Employee Benefits Security Administration will host a two-day compliance assistance webcast on Tuesday, Sept. 17 and Wednesday, Sept. 18 from 1 to 2:30 p.m. EDT each day. "The Affordable Care Act Compliance Assistance Webcast" will provide employers, brokers, third-party administrators and others with practical information, helpful tips and clarification on the new law. EBSA staff will be joined on the webcast by representatives from the Department of the Treasury and the Department of Health and Human Services.

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor, through its contractor IMPAQ International, announced the availability of approximately $80,000 in funding for the 2013 Employment and Training Administration's Research Papers Program.

WASHINGTON — A $2,205,753 National Emergency Grant was announced today by the U.S. Department of Labor to assist about 645 workers affected by layoffs at The Boeing Company in Seattle, Wash.

"As the economy continues to improve, we need to ensure that workers are in the best position possible to fill available jobs," said Secretary of Labor Thomas E. Perez. "This federal grant will help former Boeing workers enhance their skills so they can more easily transition to new employment opportunities."

Storrow Kinsella Associates Inc. SIMPLE IRA Plan in Indianapolis

Date of Action: Sept. 10, 2013

Type of Action: Complaint

Names of Defendant: Margaret T. Storrow, Storrow Kinsella Associates Inc., Storrow Kinsella Associates Inc. SIMPLE IRA Plan

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor today announced the award of grants totaling $2,335,270 to Mississippi and New York to develop and enhance Self-Employment Assistance programs for eligible individuals. Participants in this voluntary program will receive: entrepreneurial training; access to resources to help to help launch their own businesses and financial assistance, which will be equal to what qualified participants would otherwise receive under their Unemployment Insurance benefit eligibility.

Date of Action: Sept. 10, 2013

Type of Action: Complaint

Names of Defendants: Brandy Williams, Wanda Knight, Dmazana Lumukanda, Lakes Area Advertiser Inc. 401(k) Plan and A.D.S. Delivery Service Inc. 401(k) Plan

Date of Action: Sept. 4, 2013

Name(s) of Defendants: Progressive Services Inc., Michael Hirst and Peg Hirst

Date of Action: Sept. 9, 2013

Type of Action: Complaint

Names of Defendants: Orland Fasel, Bernice Fasel, Edward Fasel, E. L. Fasel & Sons Inc. Profit Sharing Plan

Date of Action: Aug. 30, 2013  

Name(s) of Defendant(s): Thomas Ramsburg and TMR Inc.

Allegations: The U.S. Secretary of Labor filed a complaint alleging the following:

WASHINGTON — Secretary of Labor Thomas E. Perez issued the following statement about the August 2013 Employment Situation report released today:

"This morning's report tells a story of an economy slowly and steadily continuing to heal, with 169,000 new jobs added in August. We have now had 42 straight months of private-sector job growth, with nearly 7.5 million private-sector jobs created over that time. The unemployment rate (7.3 percent) continues to remain stable and has now been below 8 percent for twelve consecutive months.

CANTON, S.D. — Adams Thermal Systems Inc. has entered into a deferred prosecution agreement with the U.S. Attorney's Office and the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration to pay more than $1.33 million to resolve criminal penalties and OSHA fines levied as a result of the death of a worker on Nov. 7, 2011, in the company's Canton plant. The U.S. Attorney's Office filed the Deferred Prosecution Agreement on Sept. 5, 2013, and has asked that it be approved by the U.S. District Court for the District of South Dakota.

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Disability Employment Policy invites employers and other interested stakeholders to participate in an online dialogue Sept. 9-11 on hiring, retaining and advancing workers with disabilities.

Date of Action: Aug. 29, 2013

Name(s) of Defendant(s): J. M. Singley & Associates Inc.

SEASONALLY ADJUSTED DATA In the week ending August 24, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 331,000, a decrease of 6,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 337,000. The 4-week moving average was 331,250, an increase of 750 from the previous week's unrevised average of 330,500.

Date of Action: Aug. 27, 2013

Type of Action: Complaint

Names of Defendant: Sister Rosalind Gefre Schools of Clinics and Massage Inc., Peter Fahnlander and Larry Hanson, individually, and fiduciaries to the Sister Rosalind Gefre Employee Retirement Plan

US Labor Department finds clubhouse and administrative workers not paid properly

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor today announced two final rules to improve hiring and employment of veterans and for people with disabilities. One rule updates requirements under the Vietnam Era Veterans' Readjustment Assistance Act of 1974; the other updates those under Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. For more than 40 years these laws have required federal contractors and subcontractors to affirmatively recruit, hire, train and promote qualified veterans and people with disabilities respectively.

ARLINGTON, Va. — The U.S. Department of Labor's Mine Safety and Health Administration today announced that federal inspectors issued 149 citations and 16 orders during special impact inspections conducted at nine coal mines and four metal/nonmetal mines last month.

Date of Action: Aug. 6, 2013

Name(s) of Defendant(s): Rape and Victim Assistance Center of Schuylkill County

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor today awarded a $4,760,671 National Emergency Grant to assist New York with cleanup and recovery efforts after the severe storms and flooding that struck the state from June 26 to July 4, 2013.

"The Mohawk Valley area of New York experienced significant flooding and other storm-related damage. With this federal grant, impacted communities can move forward with cleanup and restoration activities while also providing temporary work opportunities for those in need of employment," said Secretary of Labor Thomas E. Perez.