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DOL News Brief December 10, 2009
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What's Hot: Solis Rolls Out Reg Agenda Online
On Monday, the Department rolled out its regulatory agenda entirely online. All of the information — including more than eight hours of Web chats with Secretary Solis and other DOL officials — can be viewed on the Department’s new regulations Web page. The site also contains links to fact sheets, resources, ways to comment on specific regulations, and video "vignettes" of workers, employers, and DOL officials putting a human face on the proposed regulations. “As a legislator, I always felt it was essential for people to take part in the processes of their government. As a regulator, I feel exactly the same way,” said Secretary Solis. BLS Looks at Next Decade Work The Department’s Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) released a ten-year employment projection for the 2008-2018 time period. Total employment is expected to increase by 15.3 million, or 10.1 percent, with an older, more racially and ethnically diverse labor force. The projections show more than half of the new jobs will be in professional and related occupations and service-providing industries. | |||
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National News President Obama on Job Creation and Economic Growth This week, the President laid out several steps — accelerating job growth, fiscal responsibility, and an ongoing focus on job creation — as part of his plan to help put Americans back to work and get businesses hiring again. These policy measures are designed to not just create jobs in the short run, but also shift America away from consumption-driven growth to a focus on enhancing the competitiveness of America’s businesses, encouraging investment, and promoting exports. “Now, there are those who claim we have to choose between paying down our deficits on the one hand, and investing in job creation and economic growth on the other. This is a false choice,” the President said after hosting his Jobs Forum on Tuesday. White House Issues Open Government Directive As part of the Obama Administration’s work to change how Washington does business, the White House issued the Open Government Directive, an unprecedented standard for government agencies to achieve key milestones in transparency, collaboration, and participation. The Administration also released an “Open Government Progress Report to the American People” detailing a number of openness commitments, such as DOL's newly available online databases regarding worker safety. | |||
Around DOL DOL and USTR Convene Labor Advisory Meeting
U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk joined Secretary Solis at the Labor Department this week for the first meeting of the Labor Advisory Committee for Trade Negotiations and Trade Policy. The committee, comprised of U.S. trade union leaders, addressed a number of critical subjects related to the Administration’s current trade agenda and efforts to improve the global job situation. “Trade creates jobs. But as you well know, we must ensure that labor standards are enforced for workers and their families, both here and abroad, for them to be able to share in the benefits of trade," said Solis. Bienvenidos del Cono Sur
From December 7-9, Department officials and Argentina's Ministry of Labor, Employment, and Social Security met at the Frances Perkins Building to exchange information and best practices. On the agenda: youth employment, including programs targeted toward high needs areas; initiatives to promote employment; and the impact of the economic crisis on both countries. The discussions took place under the sponsorship of the Inter-American Network for Labor Administration, which facilitates bilateral and multilateral collaboration among the labor ministers in the western hemisphere. The delegation from Argentina also toured a local Job Corps and YouthBuild Center, and met with students and staff. Young People Get Close-Up Look at DOL
Secretary Solis shared inspirational words and stories with students from across the country participating in a Washington, D.C. event sponsored by the Close-Up Foundation, a non-profit organization that motivates young people to become engaged citizens by providing experiential learning opportunities. “There are no limits to what you can do when you have the passion, drive, and education to get you there,” said Secretary Solis. “You are the future of this country, and we need you to help lead us into the 21st century.” For many of the students, it was their first time in a federal building, and for even more, their first time in the nation's capital. | |||
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DOL Working For You: Former Pressman Leads on Lead
In his former upstate New York occupation as a newspaper pressman, Lawrence Cahee’s role was to print the newspaper that informed his community. Now his job is to protect his community. Thanks to American Recovery Act funding and the Labor Department’s Senior Community Service Employment Program, Cahee was trained as an environmental education associate. In his new position, he raises awareness about the dangers of lead poisoning, particularly in children, in poorer Buffalo, NY, neighborhoods. His environmental education presentations and information programs held before neighborhood groups has resulted in testing of lead levels in older homes. His efforts have also played a pivotal role in securing community help for stripping and repainting of these homes. “It is very rewarding on a personal level, for I am advocating for those whose voices can’t be heard,” Cahee said. | |||
DOL In Action: Department v. DirecTECH The Department has sued the trustees of DirecTECH Holding Co. Inc. and its former subsidiaries for violations of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act. The lawsuit alleges that the defendants imprudently used the plans’ assets to purchase company stock at inflated prices, causing million dollar losses to the plans and their participants while enriching themselves. “The Labor Department wants to ensure that these individuals cannot engage in the blatant misuse of plan assets for personal gain in the future,” said Secretary Solis. |
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Spotlight on States: Missouri SSM Health Care, a medical corporation in the St. Louis area, has paid more than $1.7 million in back wages following a Fair Labor Standards Act investigation by the Department’s Wage and Hour Division. Investigators found that despite employees working during some meal periods, the company’s timekeeping system automatically deducted meal time whether the employees were fully relieved of their duties or not. “The welfare of our workforce depends on ensuring that workers receive all the wages they have earned,” said Secretary Solis. |
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Opportunities are Open: Office of the Solicitor The Department's Office of the Solicitor (SOL) offers rewarding opportunities for great legal minds at all levels to protect American workers. Explore the three SOL positions below or view all the exciting DOL opportunities.
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OSHA: The Doctor Is In!
The new head of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) was at work this week, after being confirmed by the U.S. Senate last Thursday. Dr. David Michaels, an epidemiologist with extensive experience in occupational health and safety, along with science and regulatory policy, was previously Professor of Environmental and Occupational Health at the George Washington University School of Public Health and Health Services. According to Secretary Solis, "Dr. Michaels is an important addition to help with my goal of good jobs for everyone. Good jobs are safe jobs." | |
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You've Been Challenged, and You Only Have One Week Left! Attention online job boards, career exploration sites, and all providers of on-line job search and career advancement tools: The Department of Labor challenges you to submit your best products to "Tools for America’s Job Seekers Challenge." But time is running out — the deadline is December 18. We are compiling as many quality on-line tools as possible to help America’s job seekers connect with jobs. So far, we've received nearly 200 submissions — is your site or tool one of them? In January, job seekers and workforce professionals will be invited to test-drive, comment on, and recommend tools. | |
Exports as a Path to Recovery
The U.S. Department of Labor's Chief Economist, Alex Mas, testified before the Senate Finance Committee, International Trade, Customs, and Global Competitiveness Subcommittee earlier this week. According to Mas, “Preparing our workforce for jobs tied to exports and the green economy is critical to continuing our economic recovery and setting the stage for sustained economic growth.” | |
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Allies for Worker Rights!
On Thursday DOL signed an alliance agreement with Mexico’s Consulate General in New York to help safeguard the rights of Mexican and other Latino workers. The alliance includes the New York State Department of Labor and the Catholic Migration Office of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Brooklyn. The alliance will host a toll-free hotline (877-52-LABOR), giving workers access to information, guidance and assistance (in English and Spanish) regarding such issues as workplace health and safety, overtime compensation, migrant and seasonal worker protections, and the rights and responsibilities of workers and employers. In underscoring the importance of the alliance, Secretary Soils noted that “knowledge is a worker’s most valuable tool." | |
Black Lung Reduction Update The Department’s Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) continues its black lung education meetings this week in Washington, Pa. and Lebanon, Va. The agency’s comprehensive disease reduction strategy includes a proposed rulemaking on reducing exposure to respirable coal mine dust, a contributor to black lung. | |
Oates at NELP: "ETA Can Help"
On Monday, Assistant Secretary of Labor for Employment and Training (ETA) Jane Oates addressed the National Employment Law Project (NELP) during their annual meeting in Washington, D.C. Oates discussed the state of the current unemployment insurance system, existing challenges, and potential solutions for improving the system. She also noted the importance of job creation and the technical assistance ETA continues to provide Congress as it considers extending unemployment benefits. | |
National Resource Directory The National Resource Directory is a comprehensive online tool of resources available to wounded, ill and injured service members, veterans, and their families. A collaborative partnership among the Departments of Defense, Labor, and Veterans' Affairs, the Directory provides access to more than 11,000 services to support recovery, rehabilitation and community reintegration. The information contained within the Directory is from federal, state and local governmental agencies; Veterans service and benefit organizations; non-profit and community-based organizations; academic institutions and professional associations. | |
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MSHA End Black Lung Campaign OFCCP — American Recovery & Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) Webinar for New Federal Supply & Service Contractors OFCCP — ADA and Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 Seminar OFCCP Compliance Assistance Seminar for Construction Contractors with focus on ARRA Contracts OFCCP Compliance Assistance Seminar for Construction Contractors OFCCP Compliance Assistance Seminar for Construction Contractors OFCCP Construction Workshop Women's Bureau Green Jobs Roundtable | |
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