WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced the availability of $346 million in grants through the Senior Community Service Employment Program to provide community service-based job training opportunities for unemployed older Americans.

"The job training programs funded through these grants will enhance employment opportunities for seniors through training while also linking them with businesses that are looking for qualified employees," said Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis.

SEASONALLY ADJUSTED DATA In the week ending March 3, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 362,000, an increase of 8,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 354,000. The 4-week moving average was 355,000, an increase of 250 from the previous week's revised average of 354,750.

The advance seasonally adjusted insured unemployment rate was 2.7 percent for the week ending February 25, unchanged from the prior week's unrevised rate.

WASHINGTON – Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis today announced the availability of approximately $75 million in YouthBuild grant funds to develop programs that will help out-of-school youth complete high school or General Educational Development programs, as well as learn critical occupational skills in construction, health care, information technology and other fields.

Date of Action: March 7, 2012

Type of Action: Complaint

Name(s) of Defendant: Rusty’s Truck Service, Inc. Profit Sharing Plan

ARLINGTON, Va. – The U.S. Department of Labor's Mine Safety and Health Administration today released the results of its internal review of the agency's actions prior to the April 5, 2010, explosion that killed 29 miners at the Upper Big Branch Mine in Raleigh County, W.Va. The internal review team, comprised of MSHA employees outside the district where the accident occurred, was charged with evaluating agency actions relative to the explosion and making recommendations to improve the agency's performance in order to better protect the nation's miners.

WASHINGTON Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis today issued the following statement regarding the death of Rep. Donald Payne:

"I want to express my deepest and most heartfelt condolences to the family of Rep. Donald Payne. Words cannot express how saddened I was to learn of his passing.

"I had the privilege of working with Don for more than a decade. He was a mentor, a colleague and a friend.

WASHINGTON – Moving forward with continuing efforts to strengthen employees' voices in the workplace, the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration today announced a major restructuring of its Office of the Whistleblower Protection Program. The program will now report directly to the agency's Office of the Assistant Secretary instead of to its Directorate of Enforcement Programs.

SEASONALLY ADJUSTED DATA In the week ending February 25, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 351,000, a decrease of 2,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 353,000. The 4-week moving average was 354,000, a decrease of 5,500 from the previous week's revised average of 359,500.

The advance seasonally adjusted insured unemployment rate was 2.7 percent for the week ending February 18, unchanged from the prior week's unrevised rate.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor's Employee Benefits Security Administration today announced a two-week extension of the comment period on its proposed rule requiring multiple employer welfare arrangements (MEWAs) to register with the department.

Interested parties now have until March 19, 2012, to submit comments on the proposed rule via the Federal eRulemaking Portal at www.regulations.gov, or by mail, hand or electronic delivery to the agency at E-OHPSCAMEWARegistration.EBSA@dol.gov.

ARLINGTON, Va. – The U.S. Department of Labor's Mine Safety and Health Administration today announced that federal inspectors issued 253 citations, orders and safeguards during special impact inspections conducted at 12 coal mines and four metal/nonmetal mines last month. The coal mines were issued 171 citations, 15 orders and two safeguards, while the metal/nonmetal operations were issued 64 citations and one order.

SAUK VILLAGE, Ill. The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration has ordered Interline Logistics Group LLC to immediately reinstate a truck driver in Sauk Village, who was terminated after reporting safety concerns about the brakes on his truck and refusing to violate U.S. Department of Transportation regulations for allowable driving and rest hours.

New resources and updates part of ongoing commitment to optimizing performance and customer service

WASHINGTON The U.S. Department of Labor's Employment and Training Administration today announced an annual change to allowable charges for meals and subsistence reimbursements, and a nonmaterial change to wage rate determinations for the H-2A worker program. Both notices will be published in the March 2 edition of the Federal Register and can be viewed at http://s.dol.gov/O9.

Sec rep to cover activities in Florida, Georgia, Arkansas, Tennessee, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, North Carolina and South Carolina

WASHINGTON – Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis today announced the appointment of Millie Herrera as her regional representative in Florida, Georgia, Arkansas, Tennessee, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, North Carolina and South Carolina. Herrera is based in Miami, Fla.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor has announced an $8,563,333 National Emergency Grant increment to continue cleanup and recovery efforts in the aftermath of Hurricane Irene, which struck Puerto Rico in August 2011.

"Puerto Rico is still recovering from the damage and devastation of this massive storm," said Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis. "The additional federal assistance announced today will enable the people of Puerto Rico to complete the hard work of cleanup and recovery."

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor's Advisory Council on Employee Welfare and Pension Benefit Plans, also known as the ERISA Advisory Council, will meet Tuesday, March 13, at Labor Department headquarters, 200 Constitution Ave. NW, Washington, D.C. 20210, in Room S-2508.

SEASONALLY ADJUSTED DATA In the week ending February 18, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 351,000, unchanged from the previous week's revised figure of 351,000. The 4-week moving average was 359,000, a decrease of 7,000 from the previous week's revised average of 366,000.

The advance seasonally adjusted insured unemployment rate was 2.7 percent for the week ending February 11, unchanged from the prior week's unrevised rate.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today awarded a $477,065 National Emergency Grant increment to continue temporary employment of eligible dislocated workers to assist with ongoing cleanup and recovery efforts after the severe storms and floods that hit southeastern Minnesota between Sept. 22 and Oct. 14, 2010.

WASHINGTON — Nancy J. Leppink, deputy administrator of the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division, and Louisiana Workforce Commission Executive Director Curt Eysink signed a memorandum of understanding Feb. 23 regarding the improper classification of employees as independent contractors. This partnership is the 13th of its kind for the U.S. Department of Labor.

Labor Department alleges federal labor law violations during 2011 green bean harvest in Miami-Dade County

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor's Employee Benefits Security Administration today announced its first Spanish-language health benefits webinar to take place Wednesday, Feb. 29 from 1 to 2:30 p.m. EST. The event is free and being co-sponsored by Families USA. Participants can register online.