WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a Disaster Recovery National Dislocated Worker Grant (DWG) has been approved for the California Department of Employment Development to assess workforce needs in response to November 2018 wildfires throughout California. The funding will assist the state in response to the Camp Fire in Butte County, which is now the deadliest and most destructive fire in California history.

MT. DORA, FL – After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division (WHD), SOL Harvesting LLC – a Haines City, Florida, farm labor contractor – has paid $53,428 in back wages for violating labor provisions of the H-2A visa program.

SANFORD, FL – After a U.S. Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division (WHD) investigation, Central Florida Bakery Inc. – based in Sanford, Florida – has paid $28,055 in back wages and liquidated damages to 18 employees for violating minimum wage, overtime, and recordkeeping provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). WHD also assessed the company a civil money penalty of $5,455.

WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Secretary of Labor Alexander Acosta today issued the following statement regarding the November 2018 Employment Situation report:

"President Trump's policies continue to fuel strong and steady job growth. Two full years since the President's election, 4.6 million jobs have been created, including 155,000 in November. Job gains were significant in manufacturing and transportation and warehousing.

DICKINSON, ND – Wyoming Casing Service Inc. – based in Dickinson, North Dakota – will pay $1,174,291 in back wages to 275 current and former employees after an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD) revealed violations of the overtime and recordkeeping requirements of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

ST. LOUIS, MO ­- The U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD) will present educational forums about developments in its policies and regulations, and its Payroll Audit Independent Determination Program (PAID), in Jefferson City and in St. Louis, Missouri, on December 11, 2018, and December 20, 2018, respectively.

LOS ANGELES, CA – The U.S. Department of Labor recovered more than $1.5 million in back wages and damages for 668 Southern California garment industry employees in investigations by its Wage and Hour Division (WHD) in Fiscal Year 2018.

WHD investigations found employers paid below the federal minimum wage of $7.25 per hour. WHD also determined that employers it investigated often failed to pay employees overtime at time-and-one-half of their regular rates of pay when they worked more than 40 hours in a week, as required by the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

BRIDGEPORT, CT – The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and Lamar Outdoor Advertising Company have renewed an alliance to help protect the safety and health of employees in the outdoor advertising industry in Connecticut and western Massachusetts.

SAN FRANCISCO, CA – The U.S. Department of Labor has placed a Wage and Hour Division investigator in Fairbanks, Alaska, to enhance its outreach and enforcement activities, and to ensure compliance with federal labor laws in the Alaska Interior Region.

WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Secretary of Labor Alexander Acosta released the following statement regarding National Miners Day:

LEESBURG, FL – After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division (WHD), White Aluminum & Windows LLC – based in Leesburg, Florida – will pay $102,767 in back wages to 41 employees for violating overtime and recordkeeping provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

In the week ending December 1, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 231,000, a decrease of 4,000 from the previous week's revised level. The previous week's level was revised up by 1,000 from 234,000 to 235,000. The 4-week moving average was 228,000, an increase of 4,250 from the previous week's revised average. The previous week's average was revised up by 500 from 223,250 to 223,750.

INDIANAPOLIS, IN – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD) is conducting a statewide survey of active residential construction projects in Indiana between August 1, 2017, and July 31, 2018, to establish prevailing wage rates, as required under the Davis-Bacon and Related Acts. The data collection initiative is not limited to federally funded construction projects.

JACKSON, MI – After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD), Stejoca Inc. - a Jackson, Michigan, operator of 10 McDonalds’ restaurants - has paid $26,487 in civil money penalties for child labor violations of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

SAN FRANCISCO, CA – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has returned to normal enforcement operations throughout the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) following Typhoon Yutu. OSHA will continue to provide compliance assistance and outreach through the CNMI Onsite Consultation Office.

AUSTIN, TX - The U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD) will present an educational forum about developments in its policies and regulations, and its Payroll Audit Independent Determination Program (PAID), in Austin, Texas, on December 17, 2018.

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced actions it is taking to assist Americans in Alaska affected by the devastating earthquake.

"The Department of Labor is committed to supporting the American worker as Alaska recovers from last week’s earthquake," said U.S. Secretary of Labor Alexander Acosta.

ELBERTA, AL – After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD), Paradise Granite LLC – a countertop installation company based in Elberta, Alabama – will pay $134,097 in back wages and liquidated damages to 22 employees for violating overtime and recordkeeping provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). The Department also assessed the company a civil penalty of $8,097.

HOUSTON, TX - The U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD) will present an educational forum about developments in its policies and regulations, and its Payroll Audit Independent Determination Program (PAID), in Houston, Texas, on December 6, 2018.

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA) today released the 2018 Form M-1 and related instructions. Administrators of Multiple Employer Welfare Arrangements (MEWAs) that provide medical benefits, including Association Health Plans (AHPs), must file the Form M-1 with the Department annually and following certain events, such as a MEWA’s expansion into a new State.