WASHINGTON — Too few of America's students are meaningfully engaged in their academic experience while in high school, and many high school graduates lack exposure to learning that links their studies in school to future college and career pathways — especially in the critically important fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.

WASHINGTON — U.S. Secretary of Labor Thomas E. Perez issued the following statement about the March 2014 Employment Situation report released today:

"Today's report tells the story of a solid and steady economic recovery delivering more opportunity for more people. We saw 192,000 new jobs in the month of March, and the private sector has now created 8.9 million jobs over the last 49 consecutive months of employment growth. The unemployment rate held steady at 6.7 percent and is down from 7.5 percent a year ago.

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — The U.S. Department of Labor will host two town hall meetings on Tuesday, April 8, and Wednesday, April 9, in Albuquerque to provide the public with information about the medical benefits available under the Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program Act. The EEOICPA provides compensation and medical benefits to employees who became ill as a result of working in the nuclear weapons industry.

ARLINGTON, Va. — The U.S. Department of Labor's Mine Safety and Health Administration today issued a Program Information Bulletin reminding the mining community of the process for submitting a corrective action program for MSHA approval and the tools MSHA makes available to assist mine operators in monitoring compliance.

WASHINGTON — U.S. Secretary of Labor Thomas E. Perez and Mexican Secretary of Labor and Social Welfare Jesús Alfonso Navarrete Prida today signed a joint ministerial declaration to carry out consultations under the provisions of the North American Agreement on Labor Cooperation, the labor side agreement to the North American Free Trade Agreement, to help inform Mexican workers about their labor rights under U.S. laws.

Date of Action: March 28, 2014

Type of Action: Complaint

Names of Defendant: Heatech Inc. and Michael Fitzmeyer, in their capacity as fiduciaries of the Heatech Inc. Retirement Plan

ATLANTA — The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration is partnering with construction contractors, the Federal Highway Administration, the state of Georgia and local government organizations to sponsor a one-hour safety stand-down at construction sites around Georgia during National Highway Work Zone Awareness Week from April 7-11.

ALBANY, N.Y. — The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration has found that workers at Salko Kitchens Inc. were exposed to fire and explosion hazards and a potential occupational carcinogen due to deficient required safeguards. Proposed fines total $51,800.

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico — Constructora Santiago II Corp., a federal construction contractor in San Juan, Puerto Rico, will make a lump sum payment of $40,000 to three female carpenters who were sexually harassed, retaliated against and denied regular and overtime work hours comparable to those of their male counterparts. The settlement follows an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs.

WASHINGTON — Olivet Management LLC, a real estate development and management company that owns the former Harlem Valley Psychiatric Center in the Wingdale section of Dover Plains, N.Y., faces a total of $2,359,000 in proposed fines from the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration.

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico —— La Constructora Santiago II Corp., un contratista de la construcción a nivel federal de San Juan, pagará un total de $40.000 a tres carpinteras que fueron acosadas sexualmente, sufrieron represalias y a quienes se les negó un horario laboral regular y horas extra a diferencia de sus compañeros masculinos. El acuerdo llegó después de una investigación por parte de la Office of Federal Compliance Programs [Oficina de Programas de Cumplimiento del Contratos Federales] del Departamento de Trabajo de los EE.

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor today announced the availability of approximately $1.8 million in grants through the Women in Apprenticeship and Nontraditional Occupations program, an initiative designed to recruit, train and retain women in high-skill occupations, such as advanced manufacturing, transportation, energy, construction and information technology.

Date of Action: March 25, 2014

Type of Action: Complaint

Names of Defendants: Cargill Heating & Air Conditioning Co. Inc., Michael Earl Galstad, and Cargill Heating & Air Conditioning Co. Inc. Savings Plan in La Crosse, Wis.

WASHINGTON — The Occupational Safety and Health Administration today announced that it would be issuing a final rule to improve workplace safety and health for workers performing electric power generation, transmission and distribution work.

WASHINGTON — U.S. Secretary of Labor Thomas E. Perez issued the following statement commending the Senate's confirmation of Christopher P. Lu as deputy secretary of labor:

Date of Action: March 20, 2014

Type of Action: Consent Judgment and Order

Name(s) of Defendant: Louis & Riparetti Inc., Darrel Louis, and the Louis & Riparetti Retirement Plan

Allegations: The U.S. Department of Labor filed a lawsuit on April 10, 2012, in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California to recover unremitted employee contributions, uncollected employer contributions, and associated lost opportunity costs for the Louis & Riparetti Inc. Retirement Plan.  

TUCKER, Ga. – The U.S. Department of Labor has sued Distribution by Datagen Inc., formerly known as Depawix Health Resources Inc. of Tucker, and several companies and individuals involved in the imprudent marketing and operation of a Multiple Employer Welfare Arrangement, in violation of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act.

BROWNTOWN, Wis. — The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration has cited Grede Wisconsin Subsidiaries LLC for three violations, including one repeat, for failing to evaluate worker exposure to respirable crystalline silica dust and other hazards at the Browntown iron foundry. Worker inhalation of silica particles can lead to the development of disabling lung diseases, such as silicosis and cancer.

GARFIELD, N.J. — The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration has cited Garfield-based East Coast Stucco & Construction Inc. for fall and scaffolding hazards found at a work site in North Brunswick, where a two-story restaurant was under construction. OSHA's November 2013 inspection was prompted by safety and health complaints regarding lack of fall protection at the site. Proposed penalties total $58,520 and include four violations for repeatedly putting workers at risk.

ROCKFORD, Ill. — The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration has cited Fischer Excavating Inc. for four safety violations, including one willful, for exposing workers to trenching hazards at a work site in Rockford. Proposed penalties total $58,100. OSHA initiated the November 2013 inspection under the National Emphasis Program for trenching and excavation.