LAFAYETTE, La. – Furthering safety and health for oil and gas workers in Louisiana is the goal of an alliance signed today by the Baton Rouge Area Office of the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration and the South Louisiana Service Transmission, Exploration and Production Safety Network.

UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE WEEKLY CLAIMS REPORT

SEASONALLY ADJUSTED DATA In the week ending March 19, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 382,000, a decrease of 5,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 387,000. The 4-week moving average was 385,250, a decrease of 1,500 from the previous week's revised average of 386,750.

The advance seasonally adjusted insured unemployment rate was 3.0 percent for the week ending March 12, unchanged from the prior week's unrevised rate of 3.0 percent.

Investigators visiting farms in South Florida to ensure compliance

MIAMI — The U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division is reminding agricultural workers in South Florida that their rights are protected by the Migrant and Seasonal Agricultural Worker Protection Act, the Fair Labor Standards Act and the Occupational Safety and Health Act's Field Sanitation Standard. Virtually all employees engaged in agriculture are covered by federal law because they produce goods for interstate commerce.

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. − The U.S. Department of Labor has sued McIntyre Construction Inc. of Virginia Beach and its vice president, Robert Berkopec, for failing to remit employee contributions to the company’s 401(k) plan in violation of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act.

The lawsuit alleges that the defendants failed to remit employee contributions to the plan from 2006 through 2009, and used the money to fund corporate operations and pay other creditors.

Change would involve checking box for a musculoskeletal disorder

MERRILLVILLE, Ind. – The U.S. Department of Labor has sued Family Mobile Medical Services Inc. of Merrillville and owner Ben Richmond to restore $8,965.94 in voluntary employee contributions plus interest to the company’s retirement plan. The case resulted from an investigation by the Labor Department’s Employee Benefits Security Administration into alleged violations of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced the release of the Long-Term Care, Supports and Services Competency Model. Over the past several months, the department's Employment and Training Administration has worked with federal and industry partners to identify the core competencies required of workers who provide long-term care, support and services for individuals with disabilities and older adults in need of assistance.

Announces $10 million contribution to target root causes of exploitative child labor

WASHINGTON — U.S. Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis and El Salvador Minister of Foreign Affairs Hugo Martinez today signed a new agreement that will make it easier to protect the rights of citizens of El Salvador who work in the United States. Secretary Solis is in El Salvador to strengthen partnerships with the government, having joined President Obama for part of his Latin America trip.

TACOMA, Wash. – The U.S. Department of Labor has obtained a default judgment ordering Vincent’s Apartment Washer Service Inc. and its former owner and president, Keith D. Vincent, to restore $16,939 to the company’s savings incentive match plan for employees.

Mobile site features audio tour and background of historic event

WASHINGTON – In commemoration of the 100th anniversary of the deadly fire at the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory in New York City, the U.S. Department of Labor today announced a new website and audio tour optimized for smartphones documenting that milestone in labor's history.

PHILADELPHIA — The U.S. Department of Labor has obtained a default judgment appointing an independent fiduciary to manage the employee retirement savings plan of defunct Janbridge Inc., formerly located in Philadelphia.

Under the judgment, entered in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, Metro Benefits Inc. of Pittsburgh was appointed as the independent fiduciary with authority to manage the plan, distribute assets to plan participants and beneficiaries, and terminate the plan.

MERRIVILLE, Ind. – The U.S. Department of Labor has sued Subspecialty Centers of America LCC in Merriville and the defunct company’s owner, Mark S. Weinberger, for allegedly failing to administer and terminate the Subspecialty Centers of America LCC 401(k) Plan and Trust in violation of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a $8,397,127 grant to assist about 1,500 workers affected by layoffs at General Motors Spring Hill Assembly Plant in Spring Hill, Tenn. Workers dislocated from the plant are covered by the grant, as are workers from four supplier companies: Johnson Controls, MAPA Spontex, Penske Logistics and Premier Manufacturing Services.

Proposed rule seeks to enhance access to jobs, benefits and protections for US workers

SEASONALLY ADJUSTED DATA In the week ending March 12, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 385,000, a decrease of 16,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 401,000. The 4-week moving average was 386,250, a decrease of 7,000 from the previous week's revised average of 393,250.

The advance seasonally adjusted insured unemployment rate was 3.0 percent for the week ending March 5, unchanged from the prior week's unrevised rate of 3.0 percent.

NEW YORK – The U.S. Department of Labor has obtained a court order appointing an independent fiduciary to manage the abandoned 401(k) plan of Swigonski Management Group, formerly located in Sherrill.

Company receives 46 safety and health violations at 3 Ohio facilities

MORRAL, Ohio – The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration has cited Gavilon Grain LLC in Morral following the September 2010 death of a 20-year-old worker who was caught in a discharge auger while cleaning out a grain bin.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced two grant competitions for the National Farmworker Jobs Program. One competition will fund organizations that will provide training, the other housing services, to migrant and seasonal farmworkers and their families.

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor today announced the availability of a new online tool to collect public feedback on ways to improve regulations and the department's regulatory review process.

The online tool is part of the department's compliance with Executive Order 13563, which calls for federal agencies to detail how they will review existing significant regulations to identify whether regulations may be made more effective or less burdensome.