Agency worked jointly with FBI to develop course work to improve skills

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration today announced a new National Emphasis Program for Nursing and Residential Care Facilities to protect workers from serious safety and health hazards that are common in medical industries. OSHA develops national emphasis programs to focus outreach efforts and inspections on specific hazards in an industry for a three-year period. Through this NEP, OSHA will target nursing homes and residential care facilities in an effort to reduce occupational illnesses and injuries.

SEASONALLY ADJUSTED DATA In the week ending March 31, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 357,000, a decrease of 6,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 363,000. The 4-week moving average was 361,750, a decrease of 4,250 from the previous week's revised average of 366,000.

The advance seasonally adjusted insured unemployment rate was 2.6 percent for the week ending March 24, unchanged from the prior week's unrevised rate of 2.6 percent.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced the availability of approximately $1.8 million for up to six grants through the Women in Apprenticeship and Nontraditional Occupations program.

ARLINGTON, Va. – Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis today issued the following statement regarding the second anniversary of the Upper Big Branch Mine disaster:

"Tomorrow marks the second anniversary of the worst U.S. coal mine disaster in nearly four decades, as well as the single most heartbreaking day of my tenure as secretary of labor. I will never forget the 29 men who perished in an explosion that ripped through the mine, or the two miners who were seriously injured, or their loved ones.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration today announced that it is seeking applications from nonprofit organizations for authorization to provide standard classroom instruction on occupational safety and health as part of the OSHA Training Institute Education Centers Program. The national program serves private sector workers, supervisors and employers within OSHA's jurisdiction.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration is soliciting applications under the Susan Harwood Training Grant Program to fund training for workers and employers in recognizing workplace hazards and control measures, and understanding their rights and responsibilities. A total of $1.2 million is available to nonprofit, community and faith-based organizations; employer associations; labor unions; joint labor/management associations; and colleges and universities.

SAN FRANCISCO – Fresno-based Explore General Inc. and Jaime M. Gonzalez have been ordered to restore $519,601 to the company’s 401(k) profit-sharing plan, according to the terms of a judgment and order entered in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California.

Rule will lead to enhanced protection of miners health and safety

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today awarded a $16,532,485 National Emergency Grant supplement that will fund approximately 2,200 temporary jobs to assist with ongoing cleanup and recovery efforts following the tornado that devastated Joplin, Mo., on May 22, 2011, and storms that caused flooding in a number of Missouri counties between mid-April and early June 2011.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a $1,341,383 National Emergency Grant to provide re-employment assistance for about 400 workers affected by layoffs from multiple environmental cleanup contractors including CH2MHILL Plateau Remediation Co., Materials and Energy Corp., Mission Support Alliance and 13 others – at the U.S. Department of Energy's Hanford Site in southeastern Washington.

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of International Labor Affairs has published a revised list of products that federal contractors must certify under Executive Order 13126 are not produced with forced or indentured child labor. The list appears in the April 3 issue of the Federal Register.

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Workers' Compensation Programs has issued a proposed rule implementing amendments to the Black Lung Benefits Act that were enacted in Section 1556 of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010. The PPACA reinstates two provisions regarding coal miners' and survivors' entitlement to benefits that had been eliminated by 1981 amendments to the BLBA.

UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE WEEKLY CLAIMS REPORT

SEASONALLY ADJUSTED DATA In the week ending March 24, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 359,000, a decrease of 5,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 364,000. The 4-week moving average was 365,000, a decrease of 3,500 from the previous week's revised average of 368,500.

WASHINGTON – Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis today issued the following statement on the anniversary of the birthday of C sar E. Ch vez:

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced the availability of $15 million in grants through the Homeless Veterans Reintegration Program to provide job training services to help homeless veterans succeed in civilian careers.

Ongoing labor law enforcement efforts aim to remedy violations in restaurant industry

ARLINGTON, Va. – Despite stepped-up enforcement efforts over the past two years by the U.S. Department of Labor's Mine Safety and Health Administration, some mine operators continue to tip off their employees when federal inspectors arrive to carry out an inspection. The Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977 specifically prohibits providing advance notice of inspections conducted by MSHA.

STAFFORD, Texas – The U.S. Department of Labor has obtained a consent judgment and order resolving a lawsuit filed against Stephen B. Hobbs, former chief financial officer of defunct L.A. Utilities Inc., for failing to forward employee contributions and loan repayments to the company’s 401(k) plan in violation of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor has awarded a $1,045,616 National Emergency Grant to assist approximately 175 workers laid off by three contractors – Battelle Energy Alliance, Bechtel Bwxt Idaho LLC and CH2M WG Idaho LLC – working for the Idaho National Laboratory in Idaho Falls, Idaho.