WASHINGTON — Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis today announced a $5.35 million grant to support efforts by the governments of Brazil and Peru to combat forced labor, including forced child labor. The grant awarded by the U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of International Labor Affairs will fund a project implemented by the International Labor Organization.

MIAMI — Auto Cricket Corp., doing business as AutoCricket.com, has agreed to pay 414 employees a total of $76,589 in back wages following an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division personnel that found violations of the Fair Labor Standards Act's minimum wage and overtime provisions. The investigation included two AutoCricket locations in Riviera Beach and Cordele, Ga.

Wage and Hour Division personnel find systemic wage violations at 3 locations

Date of Action: Dec. 12, 2012

CHICAGO – A federal court in Chicago has ordered John Dombek III and John Dombek Jr. to restore a total of $69,521.31 in health care premiums and retirement plan contributions withheld from the paychecks of employees at several companies that are part of the JJD Industries Group in Schiller Park, Ill. The judgment resolves a lawsuit filed by the U.S. Labor Department based on the findings of an investigation by the department’s Employee Benefits Security Administration.

ORLANDO, Fla. – The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration has filed a petition against SeaWorld of Florida LLC to comply with administrative subpoenas that require SeaWorld to provide three managers to be interviewed during OSHA's follow-up abatement inspection. SeaWorld has declined to provide personnel to answer questions regarding abatement or correction of a prior violation related to trainers' exposure to struck-by and drowning hazards when engaged in performances with killer whales.

WASHINGTON – Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis today issued the following statement on the death of Sen. Daniel Inouye:

"I want to express my deepest and most heartfelt condolences to the family and friends of my former congressional colleague, Sen. Daniel Inouye. Words cannot express how saddened I was to learn of his passing.

"In so many ways, Sen. Inouye has influenced my career in public service. During my very first days on Capitol Hill, I remember thinking about the legacy he had already created – and about how I could learn from him.

Federal judge orders payment following US Department of Labor lawsuit against San Francisco grocer

Company agrees to pay back wages to nearly 2,000 female job applicants and offer jobs to at least 700 class members

LOS ANGELES — Clougherty Packing Co., a federal contractor and subsidiary of Hormel Food Corp., has settled allegations of systemic hiring discrimination against female job applicants following an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs.

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of International Labor Affairs today awarded $10 million for a cooperative agreement with the International Rescue Committee to combat child labor in Tanzania. The project will target regions where there is a prevalence of child labor in agriculture and domestic service.

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of International Labor Affairs has awarded a $5 million cooperative agreement to Counterpart International to combat child labor in Burkina Faso. The project will target child labor in cotton production and gold mining, focusing on the northern area of the Haute Bassins, the Boucle de Mouhoun and the northern and central-northern Cascades.

WASHINGTON – Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis today announced the appointments of five new members to the 2013 Advisory Council on Employee Welfare and Pension Benefit Plans – known as the ERISA Advisory Council. She also announced the incoming chair and vice chair of the council.

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of International Labor Affairs today introduced Reducing Child Labor and Forced Labor: A Toolkit for Responsible Businesses, the first guide developed by the U.S. government to help businesses combat child labor and forced labor in their global supply chains.

FAIRFAX, Va. – The U.S. Department of Labor has filed a lawsuit against Innovative Logistics Techniques Inc.

FAIRFAX, Va. – The U.S. Department of Labor has filed a lawsuit against Innovative Logistics Techniques Inc. for violating the Employee Retirement Income Security Act by failing to remit worker contributions and participant loan repayments to the company’s 401(k) plan.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a $13,896,148 National Emergency Grant increment to assist New York with cleanup and recovery efforts following the devastation caused by Hurricane Sandy.

WPAC meeting scheduled for Jan. 29, 2013

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor and the U.S. Small Business Administration today jointly announced a new website to support state workforce and unemployment agencies in implementing or enhancing Self-Employment Assistance programs. Today's announcement expands on guidance issued in May, which included $35 million in funding for states to implement or expand these programs made possible through the Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2012.

SEASONALLY ADJUSTED DATA In the week ending December 8, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 343,000, a decrease of 29,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 372,000. The 4-week moving average was 381,500, a decrease of 27,000 from the previous week's revised average of 408,500.

Shops producing garments sold by major retailers underpaid 185 workers by $326,000