April 25, 2013

Statement by acting Secretary of Labor Seth D. Harris on building collapse in Bangladesh

WASHINGTON – Acting Secretary of Labor Seth D. Harris today issued the following statement regarding Wednesday's deadly building collapse in Bangladesh:

"Yesterday, well over 200 people, many of them young garment workers, lost their lives in the collapse of the Rana Plaza building in the Savar section of Dhaka, Bangladesh. I join U.S. Ambassador to Bangladesh Dan M. Mozena in offering my condolences to the victims, their families and the people of Bangladesh.

April 25, 2013

Goodwill Industries of Southern California settles sex discrimination case with US Department of Labor

Agreement includes more than $130,000 in back wages for 200 male applicants and 18 job offers

April 24, 2013

US Labor Departments MSHA releases first quarter 2013 fatality data

ARLINGTON, Va. – The U.S. Department of Labor's Mine Safety and Health Administration today released a summary of U.S. mining deaths that occurred during the first quarter of calendar year 2013.

April 23, 2013

Webinar for college seniors, young workers to address managing student loans, saving for a secure financial future

WASHINGTON – An April 30 webinar will provide tips and tools to help college seniors and young workers learn to budget for today’s needs and tomorrow’s goals. “Start Early to Take Charge of Your Financial Future” will be held from 3-4 p.m. EDT on Tuesday, April 30.

April 19, 2013

Grants totaling $474.5 million available from US Labor Department to strengthen training partnerships between community colleges and employers

WASHINGTON – Acting Secretary of Labor Seth D. Harris today announced the availability of $474.5 million to create and expand innovative partnerships between community colleges and businesses to educate and train workers with the skills employers need. This third round of funding since 2009 under the Trade Adjustment Assistance Community College and Career Training grants program brings total investments to nearly $1.5 billion.

April 18, 2013

Judge orders fiduciary to restore more than $19,000 to Jomar Building Co. Inc., employee benefit plans in Detroit

Date of Action: April 18, 2013

Type of Action: Consent Order and Judgment

April 17, 2013

Judge orders Arizona worker be offered reinstatement, paid back wages and expenses under Family and Medical Leave Act following US Labor investigation

Driver and family lost income, critical health care coverage when company changed hands

PHOENIX — A U.S. district court judge in Phoenix by a consent judgment has ordered that an Arizona delivery driver be offered reinstatement and receive back pay and reimbursement of medical expenses under the Family and Medical Leave Act.

April 17, 2013

US Labor Department sues Empact Medical Services Inc. to restore more than $10,000 in assets to company’s 401(k) retirement plan

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The U.S. Department of Labor is suing Empact Medical Services Inc., and its officers Angela Cotter and Elizabeth Gail DeBusk to restore $10,582 in assets to the company’s 401(k) plan that allegedly were mishandled by the defendants in violation of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act.

April 16, 2013

US Department of Labor provides additional funds to continue storm cleanup, recovery efforts in Vermont

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a $770,000 National Emergency Grant increment to continue clean-up and recovery efforts in Vermont following Tropical Storm Irene.

"Vermont continues the difficult, but necessary, work to recover from the damage caused by Tropical Storm Irene," said Assistant Secretary of Labor for Employment and Training Jane Oates. "Additional funding from the Labor Department will help Vermont with storm cleanup and also provide temporary work to those in need of employment."

April 16, 2013

Judge appoints independent fiduciary to distribute assets of Nationwide Wash Systems Inc. 401(k) Profit Sharing Plan in Eden Prairie, Minn.

Date of Action: April 9, 2013

Type of Action: Default Judgment

Name(s) of Defendant: Valerie Kreager and Nationwide Wash Systems, Inc. 401(k) Profit Sharing Plan

Allegations: The complaint alleged that Kreager failed to administer the Plan and authorize distributions on behalf of the Plan participants since the company went out of business. The Plan has three participants with combined assets totaling $29,146.30.

April 11, 2013

Acting US Trade Representative Marantis and acting Labor Secretary Harris announce groundbreaking labor rights enforcement agreement with Guatemala

WASHINGTON — Acting U.S. Trade Representative Demetrios Marantis and acting Secretary of Labor Seth D. Harris today announced that the United States and Guatemala have agreed on a robust enforcement plan to resolve concerns raised in a labor case brought by the United States under the Dominican Republic-Central America-United States Free Trade Agreement. The 18-point plan includes concrete actions with specific time frames that Guatemala will implement within six months to improve labor law enforcement.

April 11, 2013

OPA News Release: Acting U.S. Trade Representative Marantis and Acting Labor Secretary Harris Announce Groundbreaking Labor Rights Enforcement Agreement with Guatemala [04/11/2013]

WASHINGTON — Acting United States Trade Representative Demetrios Marantis and Acting Secretary of Labor Seth Harris today announced that the United States and Guatemala have agreed on a robust enforcement plan to resolve concerns raised in a labor case brought by the United States under the Dominican Republic-Central America-United States Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA-DR). The 18-point plan includes concrete actions with specific time frames that Guatemala will implement within six months to improve labor law enforcement.

April 10, 2013

US Department of Labor releases fiscal year 2014 budget request

WASHINGTON – Acting Secretary of Labor Seth D. Harris today released the U.S. Department of Labor's fiscal year 2014 budget request, which supports President Obama's plan to strengthen the economy and grow the middle class through continued investments in training and resources for job seekers.

April 9, 2013

Acting Secretary of Labor Seth D. Harris to host April 10 webchat on Labor Departments fiscal year 2014 proposed budget

WASHINGTON – Acting Secretary of Labor Seth D. Harris will host a Web-based question-and-answer session on the U.S. Department of Labor's fiscal year 2014 budget request at 2:45 p.m. EDT on Wednesday, April 10. He will be joined by assistant secretaries and senior staff.

Information about the department's fiscal year 2014 budget request will be posted at http://www.dol.gov/budget/ at or about 1:30 p.m. EDT on April 10.

April 9, 2013

S Department of Labor provides continued re-employment assistance for Washington state workers affected by layoffs

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a $285,804 National Emergency Grant increment to continue re-employment assistance for about 400 workers affected by layoffs while working at the U.S. Department of Energy's Hanford Site in southeastern Washington state.

April 9, 2013

US Department of Labor provides grant increment to continue re-employment, training services for laid-off California workers

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a $17,171,188 National Emergency Grant increment to continue to provide re-employment and training services to more than 4,700 workers affected by layoffs from private and public sector employers in Central and Southern California.

April 9, 2013

Operator of southwestern Pennsylvania coal mine found in flagrant violation

ARLINGTON, Va. – Rox Coal Inc., which operates the Geronimo Mine in Somerset County, Pa., has been found in violation of a mandatory electrical hazard safety standard by an administrative law judge with the Federal Mine Safety and Health Review Commission. The ALJ deemed the violation "quintessentially flagrant" and ordered the company to pay a $110,000 civil penalty.

April 9, 2013

US Labor Department sues defunct Eynon, Pa., car warranty company to protect workers’ retirement assets

Date of Action: April 4, 2013

Name(s) of Defendant(s): Charles Yaskulski, Eagle Warranty Corp., and Eagle Warranty Corp. profit sharing plan

April 8, 2013

MSHA releases preliminary data for 2012 reflecting record low fatality and injury rates in mining

ARLINGTON, Va. – The U.S. Department of Labor's Mine Safety and Health Administration today announced the release of preliminary data for 2012 that indicate the lowest fatality and injury rates in the history of U.S. mining.

"MSHA at a Glance," with updated information on inspections, violations, mines and miners, as well as injury and fatality rates, is available on the agency's website, http://www.msha.gov, under "Fact Sheets."