PHILADELPHIA – The U.S. Department of Labor has recovered more than $213,000 in back wages for 1,028 foreign students employed in summer jobs in Palmyra where they repackaged candies for promotional displays. The settlement with The SHS Group, LP, the Council for Educational Travel-USA, and Exel Inc. resolves federal minimum wage and overtime violations, and also resolves $143,000 in fines for safety and health violations found at an Exel-operated facility in Palmyra.

NEW YORK — The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a settlement that includes the payment of nearly $220 million to compensate employee benefit plans and other investors that suffered losses through investments in Bernard L. Madoff's Ponzi scheme. The settlement is pending approval by the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York and resolves department litigation, actions brought by New York's attorney general, and several private lawsuits and class actions brought on behalf of plans and other investors that invested with Madoff.

SEASONALLY ADJUSTED DATA In the week ending November 3, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 355,000, a decrease of 8,000 from the previous week's unrevised figure of 363,000. The 4-week moving average was 370,500, an increase of 3,250 from the previous week's unrevised average of 367,250.

WASHINGTON – Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis today released the following statement encouraging U.S. employers to commemorate the Veterans Day holiday Monday by making a commitment to hiring veterans:

"On Monday, America will celebrate the sacrifices of the men and women who've served their country in the armed forces. I strongly believe that the best way we can honor our veterans is to employ them.

Whistleblower investigation found violations of the federal Wendell H. Ford Aviation Investment and Reform Act for the 21st Century

WASHINGTON – Continuing support of state and local partners in the wake of the devastation caused by Hurricane Sandy, the U.S. Department of Labor approved a $1.5 million National Emergency Grant to assist Rhode Island with cleanup and recovery efforts.

"Hurricane Sandy unleashed incredible winds and rainfall that affected many lives in Rhode Island," said Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis. "As directed by President Obama, the Labor Department has expedited funding in order to offer state and local partners immediate support for their storm recovery efforts."

BOSTON – The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration is urging workers and members of the public engaged in Hurricane Sandy cleanup and recovery efforts in New York, New Jersey and the New England states to be aware of the hazards they might encounter and the steps they should take to protect themselves.

Date of Action: Oct. 11, 2012

Name(s) of Defendant(s): Shawn Hedgspeth, Smart Technology Inc. and the Smart Technology 401(k) plan

Allegations: In 2005, Smart Technology Inc., an Annandale, Va.,-based company, established a 401(k) plan for its employees.  An investigation conducted by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Employee Benefits Security Administration found that the company failed to remit employee contributions to the plan from 2007 through 2009.

WASHINGTON – Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis issued the following statement on the October 2012 Employment Situation report released today:

"Our nation's labor market added 171,000 nonfarm payroll jobs in October, while the unemployment rate remained essentially unchanged at 7.9 percent. Additionally, our economy added back more than 84,000 jobs in August and September than had been initially reported.

WASHINGTON – Continuing efforts to heed President Obama's call for federal agencies to act as quickly as possible to support state and local partners in the wake of the devastation caused by Hurricane Sandy, the U.S. Department of Labor today announced a $27,792,296 National Emergency Grant to assist New York with cleanup and recovery efforts. These federal emergency relief funds are being made available to impacted counties to supplement state and local response and recovery efforts.

ARLINGTON, Va. – The U.S. Department of Labor's Mine Safety and Health Administration filed 39 requests during fiscal year 2012, more than in any other year, with the Federal Mine Safety and Health Review Commission for temporary reinstatements on behalf of miners who submitted complaints of discrimination in the form of a suspension, layoff, discharge or other adverse action.

WASHINGTON – Following President Obama's call for federal agencies to act as quickly as possible to support state and local partners in the wake of the devastation caused by Hurricane Sandy, the U.S. Department of Labor today announced a $15,591,400 National Emergency Grant to assist New Jersey with cleanup and recovery efforts.

SEASONALLY ADJUSTED DATA In the week ending October 27, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 363,000, a decrease of 9,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 372,000. The 4-week moving average was 367,250, a decrease of 1,500 from the previous week's revised average of 368,750.

Date of Action: Oct. 24, 2012

Name(s) of Defendant(s): J.M. Singley & Associates Inc.

Date of Action: Oct. 24, 2012

Name(s) of Defendant(s): J.M. Singley & Associates Inc.

WASHINGTON – U.S. Department of Labor spokesman Carl Fillichio today issued the following statement:

"The employees at the Bureau of Labor Statistics are working hard to ensure the timely release of employment data on Friday, Nov. 2. It is our intention that Friday will be business as usual regarding the October Employment Situation report."

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Disability Employment Policy has developed a series of free video vignettes, available at http://s.dol.gov/XH, as part of its "Skills to Pay the Bills: Mastering Soft Skills for Workplace Success" curriculum.

SEASONALLY ADJUSTED DATA In the week ending October 20, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 369,000, a decrease of 23,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 392,000. The 4-week moving average was 368,000, an increase of 1,500 from the previous week's revised average of 366,500.

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of International Labor Affairs has awarded a $1.5 million cooperative agreement to Tulane University's Payson Center for International Development in New Orleans to carry out research on the prevalence of child labor in cocoa-growing areas of Côte d'Ivoire and Ghana.

Recent investigation reveals evidence of wage violations among Forever 21 apparel contractors and manufacturer