WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration is soliciting applications under the Susan Harwood Training Grant Program to fund training for workers and employers in recognizing workplace hazards and control measures, and understanding their rights and responsibilities. A total of $1.2 million is available to nonprofit, community and faith-based organizations; employer associations; labor unions; joint labor/management associations; and colleges and universities.

SAN FRANCISCO – Fresno-based Explore General Inc. and Jaime M. Gonzalez have been ordered to restore $519,601 to the company’s 401(k) profit-sharing plan, according to the terms of a judgment and order entered in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California.

Rule will lead to enhanced protection of miners health and safety

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a $1,341,383 National Emergency Grant to provide re-employment assistance for about 400 workers affected by layoffs from multiple environmental cleanup contractors including CH2MHILL Plateau Remediation Co., Materials and Energy Corp., Mission Support Alliance and 13 others – at the U.S. Department of Energy's Hanford Site in southeastern Washington.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today awarded a $16,532,485 National Emergency Grant supplement that will fund approximately 2,200 temporary jobs to assist with ongoing cleanup and recovery efforts following the tornado that devastated Joplin, Mo., on May 22, 2011, and storms that caused flooding in a number of Missouri counties between mid-April and early June 2011.

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of International Labor Affairs has published a revised list of products that federal contractors must certify under Executive Order 13126 are not produced with forced or indentured child labor. The list appears in the April 3 issue of the Federal Register.

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Workers' Compensation Programs has issued a proposed rule implementing amendments to the Black Lung Benefits Act that were enacted in Section 1556 of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010. The PPACA reinstates two provisions regarding coal miners' and survivors' entitlement to benefits that had been eliminated by 1981 amendments to the BLBA.

UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE WEEKLY CLAIMS REPORT

SEASONALLY ADJUSTED DATA In the week ending March 24, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 359,000, a decrease of 5,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 364,000. The 4-week moving average was 365,000, a decrease of 3,500 from the previous week's revised average of 368,500.

WASHINGTON – Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis today issued the following statement on the anniversary of the birthday of C sar E. Ch vez:

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced the availability of $15 million in grants through the Homeless Veterans Reintegration Program to provide job training services to help homeless veterans succeed in civilian careers.

Ongoing labor law enforcement efforts aim to remedy violations in restaurant industry

ARLINGTON, Va. – Despite stepped-up enforcement efforts over the past two years by the U.S. Department of Labor's Mine Safety and Health Administration, some mine operators continue to tip off their employees when federal inspectors arrive to carry out an inspection. The Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977 specifically prohibits providing advance notice of inspections conducted by MSHA.

STAFFORD, Texas – The U.S. Department of Labor has obtained a consent judgment and order resolving a lawsuit filed against Stephen B. Hobbs, former chief financial officer of defunct L.A. Utilities Inc., for failing to forward employee contributions and loan repayments to the company’s 401(k) plan in violation of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor has awarded a $1,045,616 National Emergency Grant to assist approximately 175 workers laid off by three contractors – Battelle Energy Alliance, Bechtel Bwxt Idaho LLC and CH2M WG Idaho LLC – working for the Idaho National Laboratory in Idaho Falls, Idaho.

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor's Employee Benefits Security Administration will host a free Spanish-language webcast, "The Affordable Care Act: Important New Protections for You and Your Family," on Wednesday, April 10, at 2 p.m. EDT.

WASHINGTON – In commemoration of the 101st anniversary of the deadly fire at the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory in New York City, the U.S. Department of Labor is encouraging the public to visit a special website featuring an audio tour optimized for smartphones documenting that milestone in labor's history.

WASHINGTON – A $5 million National Emergency Grant has been awarded by the U.S. Department of Labor to the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry to provide re-employment services to about 1,000 workers affected by the closure of two oil refineries in the commonwealth. The refineries provided jobs at ConocoPhillips' Trainer facility and Sunoco Inc.'s Marcus Hook facility as well as for contractors who were employed at both locations.

5 coal mines selected based on frequent hazard complaints

ARLINGTON, Va. – The U.S. Department of Labor's Mine Safety and Health Administration today announced that federal inspectors issued 253 citations and orders during special impact inspections conducted at 15 coal mines and two metal/nonmetal mines last month. The coal mines were issued 235 citations and eight orders, while the metal/nonmetal operations were issued 23 citations and six orders.

UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE WEEKLY CLAIMS REPORT

SEASONALLY ADJUSTED DATA In the week ending March 17, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 348,000, a decrease of 5,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 353,000. The 4-week moving average was 355,000, a decrease of 1,250 from the previous week's revised average of 356,250.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced the availability of approximately $12 million in grants to provide workforce development and support services for formerly incarcerated adult and youth females as they make the transition from justice facilities back to their communities.