International free trade agreements have enlarged the scope of labor disputes for the United States government. Recently, the AFL-CIO joined a large coalition of Honduran trade unions to ask the United States Department of Labor to take measures to protect workers’ rights in Honduras. The petition asks the Department of Labor to take all necessary … Continue reading
The U.S. Department of Labor has added three products to the list of good produced by forced labor, child labor or both. The list now includes 133 products from 71 countries, ranging from bamboo in Burma to zinc in Bolivia. Added to the list yesterday are bricks in Afghanistan and cassiterite and coltan in the Democratic … Continue reading
In February 2012, the Department of Labor at last published a final rule concerning the disclosures that need to be made by those who provided services to ERISA plans pursuant to ERISA section 408(b)(2). This final rule will become effective July 1, 2012: once “reasonable” contracts will become prohibited transactions thereby creating potentially significant excise … Continue reading
The Department of Labor and federal regulations require that posters and notices be placed in the workplace keeping employees aware of their applicable minimum wage laws and other rights to working time and workplace safety, among other protections. Last week, federal district court judge Amy Berman Jackson ruled that the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) … Continue reading
Today the Department of Labor announced it would be awarding $20 million to non-profit organizations to help develop the work skills of former juvenile offenders. The grants are designed to be spread out to four 501(c)(3) organizations in $5 million chunks. Those organizations would in turn divide the $5 million among smaller non-profits who provide … Continue reading
On February 10, the Department of Labor (DOL) issued a new rule regarding the issuance of H-2B visas, changing from an attestation system introduces in 2009 to a certification system, and adding protections for non-immigrant workers. In 2009, the DOL issued a standard for determining that there are no U.S. workers willing, able, qualified, and … Continue reading
On February 10, 2012 the U.S. Labor Department announced that it had finalized a rule on H-2B foreign labor certification program which aims to make jobs more accessible to U.S. workers. The H-2B program allows foreign non-immigrant workers to enter the United States for a temporary period to work in agricultural and other seasonal work. … Continue reading
According to Workplace Prof Blog, the Department of Labor’s Wage & Hour Division has posted in the Federal Register a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking related to the Family Medical Leave Act. Here’s a summary of what will be covered: The Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division proposes to revise certain regulations of the Family and Medical … Continue reading
The unemployment rate has steadily been dropping over the last five weeks, but may not be for the reason you think. According to the Department of Labor, weekly applications for unemployment benefits dropped 13,000 to a seasonally adjusted 348,00 as reported February 16, 2012. The Huffington Post reports that the decline may indicate the companies … Continue reading
Ironically, as the economy continues its recovery, the long-term unemployed are further alienated from the improving job market. Even in a political landscape where the creation of jobs has taken center stage and the health of the economy is largely dependent upon a low unemployment rate, many of the jobs created during the economic recovery … Continue reading
