Reference: 20 CFR 653.108(k) and 1988 National Monitor Advocate Conference. Background: Federal regulations published January 25, 1977, established the Monitor Advocate position and provided guidelines for the provision of employment services to migrant and seasonal farmworkers (MSFWs). The 1977 regulations were the result of the court order in the case of NAACP v. Brennan (Civil Action No. 2010-72). These regulations were later amended on June 25, 1980, as a result of the settlement agreement in that litigation. Since the 1980 regulations were implemented, the Department of Labor (DOL) through monitoring, field visits, and public comment has been aware of the need to provide continued training to ensure the provision of adequate services to MSFWs and to maintain an effective Monitor Advocate program as established by referenced regulations. In addition, every effort must be made to promote job placement of U.S. farmworkers and positive coordination with other farmworker advocates. On September 20-23, 1988, the first National Conference of Monitor Advocates was held in San Antonio, Texas. The conference was conducted in consultation with the National Governors' Association and the National Council of La Raza. From the workshops and panel discussions conducted at the 1988 conference, several recommendations were generated and presented to the U.S. Department of Labor by the National Council of La Raza. The recommendations covered concerns in the following categories: Enhancing Recruitment of U.S. Farmworkers; IRCA: Its Impact on Agricultural Workers and Employers, Evolution of the Monitor Advocate System; and partnerships of Federal, State, and Community Based Organizations which provide services to farmworkers. Conference Objectives: The theme of the conference is "Farmworkers in the 90's: Confronting New Challenges, Charting New Paths". The major objectives of the conference will be: (a) Follow-up on the recommendations of the previous Monitor Advocate Conference, especially those relating to the major goal of improving DOL services to MSFWs; (b) Identify and coalesce service providers on a national scope; and (c) Enhance the communication and cooperation between farmworker advocacy groups and DOL. Accommodations: The Conference site has been confirmed. It will be held at the Marriott River Walk, 711 East River Walk, San Antonio, Texas 78205. Reservations should be made and confirmed by October 31. All conference attendants are responsible for their reservations. The hotel rates are $61.00 single and double, $71,00 triple, and $81.00 quadruple occupancy. The tax rate is 13% but will be waived with a tax exempt form. Reservations may be made by contacting hotel at (512) 224-4555. Participants: It is important that all Monitor Advocates, State Administrators and other individuals directly involved in agricultural recruitment attend the conference. Action Required: SESA Administrators are requested to ensure attendance of appropriate staff at this conference.

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References: 20 CFR 656, 20 CFR 655, Subpart A, 20 CFR 655.300, 20 CFR 655.700, and 20 CFR 655.900. Background: Beginning with FY 1993, SESAs will be required to submit reports about their alien labor certification workload to ETA on a semi-annual basis. The information will be collected through a new reporting form, the Semi-Annual Alien Labor Certification Activity Report (ETA-9037). The data from this report will provide important program information about SESA workload in a number of immigration programs and provide ETA with more timely management information. The data will be used for program monitoring and evaluation and for future distribution of alien certification funds. OMB Approval: The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has approved the information collection for these reports according to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1980, under OMB Approval No. 1205-0319, expiration date, January 31, 1995. Action Required: SESAs should review the form and familiarize themselves with the information being requested. The report will be due to the Regional Office October 15 and April 15. The first report will be due in ETA's Regional Office on April 15, 1993. SESAs should develop procedures for collecting the specified data at the beginning of the Fiscal Year.

Background: The Employment and Training Administration (ETA), State Employment Security Agencies (SESAs), the Interstate Conference of Employment Security Agencies (ICESA), and others have been cooperating in an effort to increase the number of job openings included in the IJB and to develop innovative strategies for increasing access to IJB for individuals seeking employment. These efforts do not alter basic interstate procedures, which remain in effect. Many individual States have included the IJB in public access strategies such as placing job search kiosks in shopping malls, transportation centers, and other locations outside of the local office. The Multi-State Job Bank demonstration project achieved increased reliance on IJB by the participating States of Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia and the District of Columbia. The Department of Defense, in cooperation with ICESA, is currently implementing personal computer access to IJB in 350 military installations world wide. The Department of Defense, is also establishing transition programs to assist service members, spouses of service members and civilian workers affected by defense downsizing. Because transition centers are located throughout the world, IJB users at these centers will be contacting local offices directly, without the assistance of other employment service staff. These innovations represent both an exciting opportunity and a challenge to the State employment security agencies. Increased Direct Contacts from Individuals: Much of the new access to the IJB will occur outside of local offices. For example, at the 350 military installations, eligible service members, spouses, and civilian defense employees will have access to IJB through a personal computer. The job orders provide the name and address of the local job service office which holds the order. Especially when the access to IJB occurs outside of the United States, no employment service staff are available to assist applicants in making contact with the local office. These individuals will contact local offices directly. Increased Exposure for Job Orders Through IJB: The extension of access to IJB in non-traditional settings affords access to IJB job orders for individuals who have not had such access in the past. Many of these individuals have high levels of technical skills required in some of our hardest to fill jobs. Such expanded access should increase the likelihood of filling orders which may not have been filled through the Employment Service in the past, and thereby lead to expanded employer use of the IJB. New Uses for IJB: Individuals may access IJB at an earlier time in their total job search experience. At the 350 military installations where IJB is being accessed, many of the individuals who are using IJB are using it prior to separation, sometimes months in advance of separation. Use of IJB at such early dates may have more direct labor market information utility, than immediate placement productivity. Such early exposure to highly qualified candidates may present unique job development opportunities. Action Required: State Administrators are requested to: a. Provide the above information to appropriate staff. b. Assure appropriate local office response to direct contacts from individuals even if they are not registered. Local office response should assist all these individuals, including those who are affected by defense downsizing, especially those who get exposure to IJB through transition assistance programs overseas. Special procedures may include job development activities for individuals who will be returning to a local labor market in the future. c. Review State policies and procedures for entering jobs into IJB. States should recognize that, especially in relation to defense downsizing, the IJB offers exposure to highly skilled potential applicants, who may have strong attachments to local labor markets. When States perform a daily telecommunication with the IJB Center to submit and receive interstate job orders, and rely on automated selection of unfilled job orders, which are appropriate for the full range of jobseekers, States are taking concrete steps to strengthen the public employment service.

Action Required: a. Remove canceled directives listed on Attachment A from your active files. While an ESPL may be declared obsolete, the attachment or separate cover material transmitted with it may be retained as long as it is useful. Handbook material transmitted by ESPL should be kept in your active files until the individual pages or the entire handbook is declared obsolete. b. Place the current checklist (Attachment B) at the front of the appropriate binder to serve as a source of reference.

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Background: The United States Employment Service (USES) has recently announced the completion and publication of the second in a series of documents developed to assist the counseling and placement function of the U.S. Employment Service. The first title in the series, "Tips for Finding the Right Job", addresses the needs of younger or unskilled worker entering the job market. The Job Search Guide: Strategies for Professionals was developed and released by USES in its ongoing effort to assist individuals in finding satisfying employment. The Guide is a unique document which provides, in one source, a variety of important job search information including specific steps that job seekers can follow to identify employment opportunities. A job seeker can use the information in this guide to develop job hunting strategies, learn skills and techniques for successfully completing the applicant screening process (e.g., filling out applications, answering interview questions, completing the employment tests), as well as identifying other resources that can be helpful in locating employment. The Guide contains a comprehensive listing of job search strategies for professionals. It provides, in detail, highly technical material to assist job seekers in a professional job search. It will assist unemployed managers, technicians and other professionals, many of whom have never been out of work, in taking a practical, realistic approach to job hunting. We request that you circulate this Guide among your colleagues and constituents. Since users' feedback will help make the Guide a more valuable reference book, any comments or suggestions regarding this publication would be most welcome. Distribution: Five complimentary copies of the Guide are being provided under separate cover to Regional and State Offices. The Job Search Guide: Strategies for Professionals is available from the Superintendent of Documents, Government Printing Office (GPO), Washington, D.C. 20402-9325 (telephone: 202/783-3238) for $ 5.50. The stock number is 029-014-00247-0. GPO offers a 25% discount on quantities of 100 copies or more. Action Required: Please inform program staff of the release of the Job Search Guide: Strategies for Professionals.

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