WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a $1,461,142 National Emergency Grant increment to continue cleanup and recovery efforts throughout Florida following Tropical Storm Debby.

"These grant funds, in particular, will help the state of Florida and displaced oystermen complete the work of restoring the oyster beds of the Apalachicola Bay," acting Secretary of Labor Seth D. Harris said. "This additional federal funding is an investment that will create employment opportunities for individuals and benefit their communities."

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a $594,268 grant to assist about 130 workers impacted by the closure of Edward Jones Mortgage LLC offices in Minneapolis and suburban St. Louis Park.

ARLINGTON, Va. The recent decision by the Joseph A. Holmes Safety Association to create a separate mine rescue program represents a critical component in a three-year effort by the Mine Safety and Health Administration to address gaps in how the nation responds to mine emergencies.

"We now have a new partner – a national organization to support and provide the necessary guidance for mine rescue," said Joseph A. Main, assistant secretary of labor for mine safety and health.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today awarded grants totaling $20 million to provide job training for inmates aged 18 and older participating in state or local work-release programs. The grants are part of the Training to Work-Adult Reentry initiative, which seeks to provide work skills, education, and supportive services to improve the long-term employment prospects of soon-to-be-released inmates.

Date of Action: June 17, 2013

Type of Action: Default Judgment

Names of Defendants: Pallet Holdings, LLC; Pallet Holdings, LLC 401(k) Plan and Brandon Bush, individually and as a fiduciary of the Plan

Date of Action: June 14, 2013

Type of Action: Complaint

Name(s) of Defendant: People of Color in Crisis 403(B) Retirement Plan

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of International Labor Affairs today announced a $2 million competitive solicitation to fund one or more projects to reduce child labor in the home-based production of carpets in Afghanistan.

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of International Labor Affairs today announced a $7.7 million competitive solicitation for a cooperative agreement to support a reduction of the worst forms of child labor by building local and national capacity of governments in at least 10 countries.

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of International Labor Affairs today announced a $2.5 million competitive grant solicitation to fund improvements in the enforcement and monitoring of fire and building safety standards to better protect workers in the ready-made garment sector of Bangladesh.

Wage and Hour Division refers case to US Justice Department

WASHINGTON – Assistant Secretary of Labor for Employee Benefits Security Phyllis C. Borzi today announced the following guidance on compliance with employee benefit plan rules for those adversely impacted by the Moore, Oklahoma tornado:

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced $6.4 million in grants for the third round of the Workforce Data Quality Initiative, which is designed to improve the quality and availability of workforce data.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced $9.1 million in grants to seven organizations through the National Farmworker Jobs Program to improve economic opportunities and combat chronic unemployment and underemployment for migrant and seasonal farmworkers and their families.

Date of Action: June 10, 2013

Type of Action: Complaint

Names of Defendants: Alex Bulmash, Investment Group Inc. and Investment Group Inc. 401(k) Sharing Plan & Trust

Allegations: The Investment Group Inc. was a mortgage brokerage firm which processed residential mortgages in Cook County, Ill. Bulmash was the president and owner of Investment Group Inc. and sole fiduciary to the Investment Group Inc. 401(k) Sharing Plan & Trust established in January 2003.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a National Emergency Grant totaling $838,390 to assist about 200 workers affected by layoffs at the headquarter offices of SUPERVALU located in Eden Prairie and Stillwater, Minn.

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor and other federal agencies will participate in two town hall meetings on June 19 in Bolingbrook, Ill., to provide former nuclear weapons workers, including those who worked at the Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory and at Argonne National Laboratory East, with information about the Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program Act.

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor will host town hall meetings in New Mexico —on June 18 in Santa Fe, on June 19 in Albuquerque and on June 20 in Grants — to provide information about the medical benefits provided under the Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program Act.

LEXINGTON, Ky. – The U.S. Department of Labor has filed complaints on behalf of pension plans at Iowa-based foundry Fairfield Casting LLC and Michigan-based manufacturer Fourslides Inc. The suits, filed in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky, allege improper use of pension funds and seek to restore $4.9 million to the defined benefit plans.

Date of Action: June 10, 2013

Type of Action: Consent judgment and order

Name of Defendant: Thomas Fernandes, individually and as a fiduciary to the Air Gage Company 401(k) Plan and Air Gage Company Health Care Plan

Resolution: Fernandes, in his capacity as a fiduciary to the Air Gage Company 401(k) Plan and Air Gage Company Health Care Plan, is liable to the plans for $11,143.21.

MILWAUKEE – A federal court in Milwaukee has ordered Michael J. Losik to restore $225, 274 to the Losik Engineering Design Group Ltd. defined benefit retirement plan. Losik, the company’s president and owner, violated the Employee Retirement Income Security Act by imprudently investing plan assets in a hedge fund, by making an improper distribution to his own account, and by failing to properly administer the plan. The judgment resolves a lawsuit filed by the U.S.