March 22, 2011

US Department of Labor announces release of Long-Term Care, Supports and Services Competency Model

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced the release of the Long-Term Care, Supports and Services Competency Model. Over the past several months, the department's Employment and Training Administration has worked with federal and industry partners to identify the core competencies required of workers who provide long-term care, support and services for individuals with disabilities and older adults in need of assistance.

March 22, 2011

US Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis joins President Obama in El Salvador to highlight labor solidarity in protecting migrant workers rights

WASHINGTON — U.S. Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis and El Salvador Minister of Foreign Affairs Hugo Martinez today signed a new agreement that will make it easier to protect the rights of citizens of El Salvador who work in the United States. Secretary Solis is in El Salvador to strengthen partnerships with the government, having joined President Obama for part of his Latin America trip.

March 22, 2011

US Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis joins President Obama on El Salvador trip to highlight solidarity on combating child labor

Announces $10 million contribution to target root causes of exploitative child labor

March 22, 2011

US Labor Department obtains default judgment against Tacoma, Wash.-based company, owner to restore nearly $17,000 in retirement assets

TACOMA, Wash. – The U.S. Department of Labor has obtained a default judgment ordering Vincent’s Apartment Washer Service Inc. and its former owner and president, Keith D. Vincent, to restore $16,939 to the company’s savings incentive match plan for employees.

March 21, 2011

US Labor Department launches mobile-optimized website to commemorate 100th anniversary of Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire

Mobile site features audio tour and background of historic event

WASHINGTON – In commemoration of the 100th anniversary of the deadly fire at the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory in New York City, the U.S. Department of Labor today announced a new website and audio tour optimized for smartphones documenting that milestone in labor's history.

March 21, 2011

US Labor Department obtains court-appointed independent fiduciary for employee retirement plan of defunct Philadelphia company

PHILADELPHIA — The U.S. Department of Labor has obtained a default judgment appointing an independent fiduciary to manage the employee retirement savings plan of defunct Janbridge Inc., formerly located in Philadelphia.

Under the judgment, entered in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, Metro Benefits Inc. of Pittsburgh was appointed as the independent fiduciary with authority to manage the plan, distribute assets to plan participants and beneficiaries, and terminate the plan.

March 18, 2011

US Department of Labor sues defunct Indiana company, owner to obtain assets for 401(k) plan and trust participants

MERRIVILLE, Ind. – The U.S. Department of Labor has sued Subspecialty Centers of America LCC in Merriville and the defunct company’s owner, Mark S. Weinberger, for allegedly failing to administer and terminate the Subspecialty Centers of America LCC 401(k) Plan and Trust in violation of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act.

March 17, 2011

US Labor Department issues proposed rulemaking revising H-2B program

Proposed rule seeks to enhance access to jobs, benefits and protections for US workers

March 17, 2011

ETA Press Release: Unemployment Insurance Weekly Claims Report

SEASONALLY ADJUSTED DATA In the week ending March 12, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 385,000, a decrease of 16,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 401,000. The 4-week moving average was 386,250, a decrease of 7,000 from the previous week's revised average of 393,250.

The advance seasonally adjusted insured unemployment rate was 3.0 percent for the week ending March 5, unchanged from the prior week's unrevised rate of 3.0 percent.

March 17, 2011

US Labor Department announces grant to assist Tennessee workers impacted by General Motors Spring Hill Plant closure

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a $8,397,127 grant to assist about 1,500 workers affected by layoffs at General Motors Spring Hill Assembly Plant in Spring Hill, Tenn. Workers dislocated from the plant are covered by the grant, as are workers from four supplier companies: Johnson Controls, MAPA Spontex, Penske Logistics and Premier Manufacturing Services.

March 17, 2011

US Labor Department obtains court-appointed independent fiduciary for 401(k) plan abandoned by defunct Sherrill, NY, employer

NEW YORK – The U.S. Department of Labor has obtained a court order appointing an independent fiduciary to manage the abandoned 401(k) plan of Swigonski Management Group, formerly located in Sherrill.

March 16, 2011

US Department of Labor announces 2 grant competitions to provide career training and housing to farmworkers

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced two grant competitions for the National Farmworker Jobs Program. One competition will fund organizations that will provide training, the other housing services, to migrant and seasonal farmworkers and their families.

March 16, 2011

US Labor Departments OSHA cites Gavilon Grain for willful, other safety violations following death of 20-year-old worker at Morral facility

Company receives 46 safety and health violations at 3 Ohio facilities

MORRAL, Ohio – The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration has cited Gavilon Grain LLC in Morral following the September 2010 death of a 20-year-old worker who was caught in a discharge auger while cleaning out a grain bin.

March 16, 2011

US Labor Department launches website for public feedback on regulations

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor today announced the availability of a new online tool to collect public feedback on ways to improve regulations and the department's regulatory review process.

The online tool is part of the department's compliance with Executive Order 13563, which calls for federal agencies to detail how they will review existing significant regulations to identify whether regulations may be made more effective or less burdensome.

March 16, 2011

Miami tool manufacturer agrees to restore more than $107,000 to company’s pension profit sharing plan following US Labor Department investigation

MIAMI – The U.S. Department of Labor has obtained a consent judgment that restores more than $107,775 to participants in the Miami-based Michigan Drill Corp. Profit Sharing Plan.

March 16, 2011

US Department of Labor sues Los Angeles-based healthcare group to recover retirement contributions and loan repayments owed to hospital workers

LOS ANGELES – The U.S. Department of Labor has sued USA Star Healthcare Group - East Los Angeles Inc. and executives of ElaStar Community Hospital for failure to remit and timely forward employee contributions and loan repayments to the hospital’s retirement plan in violation of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act. The company also operated under the name ElaStar Community Hospital.

March 14, 2011

US Department of Labor obtains judgment restoring $18,000 to Burnsville, Minn.-based Slate Cement's health, dental and 401(k) plans

BURNSVILLE, Minn. – A federal district court in Minneapolis has ordered Larry Lauterbach, the president and former owner of Slate Cement Inc., a defunct Burnsville construction company, to restore $17,273.18 in unremitted employee contributions and lost opportunity costs to the company's health and dental plan, and $747.20 in unremitted employee contributions to the company's 401(k) plan.

March 11, 2011

Statement by Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis on earthquake and tsunami in Japan

WASHINGTON Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis today issued the following statement regarding the earthquake and tsunami in Japan:

"I send my deepest condolences to the people of Japan, particularly to those who have lost loved ones in the earthquake and tsunami. Disasters like this one have devastating effects on a nation s people, and I m proud that President Obama has acted swiftly in providing attention and support. My thoughts and prayers are with all of Japan's people as they overcome this tragedy."

March 11, 2011

US Labor Department sues trustee of defunct Maine company employee stock ownership plan to restore losses to the plan

BOSTON – The U.S. Department of Labor has sued Stephen Thomas, individually and as trustee of the defunct Gagne Precast Concrete Products Inc. Employee Stock Ownership Plan, for alleged violations of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act that cost the plan millions of dollars in losses. ERISA is the federal law that protects the assets and participants of private sector employee benefit plans.