WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division has announced the reopening of its Houston District Office to assist employees and employers in the communities affected by Hurricane Ike with wage-related issues.

The Houston office was closed because of wind and rain damage as a result of Hurricane Ike. During that period, the work normally performed out of the division's Houston office was handled by its San Antonio District Office.

Theme: America's People... America's Talent... America's Strength!

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor today recognized eight winners of the 7th annual New Freedom Initiative Award for their outstanding efforts to improve employment opportunities for people with disabilities. The awards ceremony took place at the Grand Hyatt Washington Hotel in Washington, D.C.

Archived News Release — Caution: Information may be out of date.

Atlanta – The U.S. Department of Labor has sued People Unlimited Consulting Inc. and two executives of the Charlotte, North Carolina, employee staffing company for violating the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) when they failed to distribute $115,589 in 401(k) assets to eligible plan participants.

Archived News Release — Caution: Information may be out of date.

Denver – The U.S. Department of Labor has obtained a consent order appointing Midwest Fiduciary Services to serve as the independent fiduciary of the abandoned 401(k) plan of defunct Absolute Control Systems Inc. in Golden, Colorado.

Archived News Release — Caution: Information may be out of date.

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor has announced final rules pertaining to the requirements of the Pension Protection Act of 2006 (PPA). The new rules relate to distribution of 401(k) benefits for missing nonspouse beneficiaries in terminated plans, selection of annuity providers and cross trading of securities by plans governed by the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA).

WASHINGTON — U.S. Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao today announced that the U.S. Department of Labor is awarding more than $58 million in fiscal year 2008 grants to combat hazardous and exploitive child labor in countries around the world. The grants will save children from and prevent them from entering exploitive labor by providing education and other services. Some of the funding also will be used to collect reliable data and strengthen the capacity of governments to address the problem.

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Columbus, Ohio — The owner of Laser Saver Inc. in Columbus today pleaded guilty in U.S. district court to willful failure to file with the U.S. Department of Labor annual financial reports for the company’s 401(k) retirement plan that are required by the Employee Retirement Income Security Act.

Rule establishes Form T-1 for union trust reporting

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Pittsburgh – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA) will sponsor “Getting It Right – Know Your Fiduciary Responsibilities,” a free compliance assistance seminar, on October 30 at the Westin Convention Center Hotel in Pittsburgh.

Archived News Release — Caution: Information may be out of date.

Portland, Maine – The U.S. Department of Labor has filed a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the District of Maine seeking appointment of an independent fiduciary to oversee the abandoned 401(k) plan of TRITECH Information Strategies Inc., formerly of Kennebunk, Maine.

Lawsuit seeks backwages for 2,000 ready mix drivers in 8 states

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New Haven, Connecticut – The U.S. Department of Labor has sued the owner and operator of Fairfield Podiatry Associates LLC of Fairfield, Connecticut, seeking restoration of funds to the company’s 401(k) plan.

Archived News Release — Caution: Information may be out of date.

Middleburg Heights, Ohio – The U.S. Department of Labor has sued First Primary Mortgage Inc. of Middleburg Heights, and its owner and the trustee of the First Primary Mortgage Inc. 401(k) Plan, for failure to properly administer the company plan in violation of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA).

Archived News Release — Caution: Information may be out of date.

Boston – A federal judge has ordered G. Conway Inc. of Boston and corporate officers Gerard D. Conway and Robert Conway to repay $72,803 to the company’s 401(k) plan to resolve a lawsuit filed by the U.S. Department of Labor that alleged violations of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA).

Archived News Release — Caution: Information may be out of date.

Minneapolis – The U.S. Department of Labor has sued to appoint an independent fiduciary to administer and terminate the 401(k) plan of KSM Holding Corp., a defunct Minneapolis company.

Archived News Release — Caution: Information may be out of date.

Washington – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA) today announced new online tools to give workers access to financial information and an improved calculator that makes it easier for employers and plan administrators to pay online civil penalties for delinquent filings of annual reports under the agency’s Delinquent Filer Voluntary Compliance Program (DFVCP).

Archived News Release — Caution: Information may be out of date.

Wyckoff, N.J. — The U.S. Labor Department has sued to obtain appointment of an independent fiduciary to oversee the employee profit-sharing plan of Jules Prosnitz & Sons Inc., formerly doing business as “Prozy’s Army-Navy Store,” a defunct company located in Wyckoff.

Archived News Release — Caution: Information may be out of date.

Agency obtained 8 convictions and 10 indictments during month

Archived News Release — Caution: Information may be out of date.