WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of International Labor Affairs today announced the award of up to $2 million to one or more organizations to achieve improved compliance with labor laws in the Democratic Republic of Georgia.

The aim of the project(s) is to improve government labor laws and respect for international labor standards while enhancing the effectiveness of worker organizations in representing workers' rights and interests. The project(s) will be funded up to four years and six months.

SEASONALLY ADJUSTED DATA In the week ending July 20, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 343,000, an increase of 7,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 336,000. The 4-week moving average was 345,250, a decrease of 1,250 from the previous week's revised average of 346,500.

Date of Action: April 7, 2013

Type of Action: Stipulation and Order

Name(s) of Defendant: OPT, Inc.; Joyce Olszewski, the executor of the estate of Anthony Olszweski; Joycelyn Tran; Jonathan Jones; and the OPT, Inc. 401(k) Profit Sharing Plan. 

CHICAGO – Under terms of a consent order and judgment, $150,226 must be restored to the Profit Sharing Plan of the now defunct Cougar Package Designers Inc., the U.S. Department of Labor announced today. The judgment follows an investigation by the department’s Employee Benefits Security Administration that found plan assets were improperly transferred and commingled with the Lemont-based company’s operating funds between Jan. 1, 2009 and Sept. 30, 2010, in violation of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act.

ARLINGTON, Va. — The U.S. Department of Labor's Mine Safety and Health Administration today announced that federal inspectors issued 157 citations, 10 orders and one safeguard during special impact inspections conducted at nine coal mines and four metal/nonmetal mines last month.

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor today announced the availability of funds for states to improve program integrity, performance, and technology infrastructure systems for the Unemployment Insurance program. The grants are intended to accelerate actions to reduce UI improper payment rates; provide an opportunity for modernizing UI tax and benefits systems, and enable the design of technology-based tools to prevent, detect and recover improper UI payments.

Date of Action: February 8, 2013

Type of Action: Order Granting Motion to Appoint Independent Fiduciary

Name(s) of Defendant: Michael D. Williams, Trustee to the Power & Data Technology, Inc. 401(k) Profit Sharing Plan

NEW YORK — The U.S. Department of Labor has obtained a consent judgment in federal court in which the trustee of two defined benefit pension plans admits to entering into $4,232,915 in alleged unlawful plan transactions between 2002 and 2010. Colette Mordo, trustee and fiduciary to the pension plans of the Manhattan-based Sadimara Knitwear Inc. and the Stallion Knits Ltd. pension plans also agrees to restore, up to that amount, any shortfall in assets owed to the plans' participants and beneficiaries.

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a $1,054,112 National Emergency Grant to assist Arkansas with cleanup and recovery efforts after the severe storms, tornadoes and flooding that struck the state May 30 to June 3.

"The destruction caused by this severe storm affected communities across Arkansas," said Eric Seleznow, acting assistant secretary of labor for employment and training. "There is a great deal of recovery work to be done, and the Labor Department is committed to helping Arkansans rebuild their communities."

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of International Labor Affairs today announced a revised "List of Products Produced by Forced or Indentured Child Labor," adding six new products from five countries. Federal contractors supplying products on the list must certify the goods were not produced by forced or indentured child labor in accordance with Executive Order 13126.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a temporary enforcement policy that will allow 401(k)-type plans to reset the timing for the annual distribution of the investment comparative chart that they are required to furnish to plan participants. Most plans must furnish this year's annual comparative chart no later than August 30, 2013.

WASHINGTON — The following is a joint statement from the Department of Labor, Office of the United States Trade Representative, and the State Department:

SEASONALLY ADJUSTED DATA In the week ending July 13, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 334,000, a decrease of 24,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 358,000. The 4-week moving average was 346,000, a decrease of 5,250 from the previous week's revised average of 351,250.

BOSTON — Tufts Associated Health Plans Inc. has agreed to pay $372,739 to 12 Asian, Hispanic and African American workers following an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs. The agreement settles allegations that the Massachusetts-based federal contractor violated provisions of Executive Order 11246 by retaliating against employees that OFCCP had determined were victims of discrimination in an earlier investigation.

BRIDGEPORT, Pa.—The U.S. Department of Labor has obtained a court order freezing 13 bank and brokerage accounts allegedly containing assets of multiple employee welfare benefit plans administered by Bridgeport-based PennMont Benefit Services Inc. The accounts include bank accounts in the name of plan trustee Penn Public Trust, plan fiduciary John J. Koresko V and the Koresko Law Firm.

Date of Action: July 2, 2013

Type of Action: Complaint

Names of Defendant: Theresa A. Hellman and Robin M. Polin, individually and as fiduciaries of the Specialty Staff, Inc. 401(k) Plan; Specialty Staff Inc.; and the Specialty Staff Inc. 401(k) Plan located in Carmel, Ind.

CRESTVIEW, Fla. – The U.S. Department of Labor has obtained a consent judgment requiring Robert S. Caputo and Glenn M. Bankert to restore $225,000 to an employee stock ownership plan. The judgment follows a lawsuit filed by the department’s Employee Benefits Security Administration alleging the defendants breached their fiduciary responsibilities, in violation of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act.

Grants awarded to 38 states, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands and the District of Columbia

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today awarded approximately $64.3 million to 38 states, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands and the District of Columbia to implement or continue re-employment and eligibility assessments for individuals who receive unemployment benefits.

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of International Labor Affairs is seeking eligible applicants for a $5 million cooperative agreement to reduce child labor and help youth of legal working age secure decent work in Morocco. The project will focus on supporting efforts in rural areas and areas in the process of urbanization that immediately adjoin cities and towns.

Date of Action: July 11, 2013

Name(s) of Defendant(s): Innovative Logistics Techniques Inc.