Search Results for agency_names:"Labor Department"

The Department of Labor is requesting public comments on an information collection process related to a financial exemption that allows employee benefit plans to invest in mutual funds under specific conditions. This exemption requires banks or plan advisers to disclose details to independent fiduciaries before any asset transfers and provide regular updates afterward. Comments are being solicited on several aspects, including the need and practicality of the information collection, accuracy in estimating the associated burdens, and suggestions for improving the process. The Department seeks to maintain authorization for this collection for three years, during which it remains subject to review and approval by the Office of Management and Budget.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has released an interim final rule to manage the handling of retaliation complaints under the Anti-Money Laundering Act of 2020 (AMLA), as part of anti-retaliation efforts. This rule outlines procedures for filing complaints, the investigation process, and the resolution, including possible appeals and judicial review, in cases of alleged retaliation against whistleblowers. The interim final rule is effective from January 14, 2025, and comments are invited until March 17, 2025, to refine these guidelines. The document ensures whistleblowers are protected when they report actions they reasonably believe to be violations of law, though it excludes employees of federally insured banks and credit unions, which are protected under different statutes.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is asking for public feedback on a proposal to extend the approval of certain information collection rules specified in the Lead in Construction Standard. These rules are in place to help reduce workplace lead exposure in the construction industry. OSHA is particularly interested in comments about the necessity, accuracy, and clarity of these information collection requirements, as well as suggestions for reducing the burden on employers. The deadline for submitting comments is April 29, 2025, and feedback can be submitted electronically or via fax.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is seeking public comments on its proposal to extend approval of information collection requirements under the 4, 4'-Methylenedianiline (MDA) in Construction Standard. This rule is vital to ensuring worker safety by protecting them from the harmful effects of MDA, a chemical that can cause cancer and liver and skin diseases. OSHA aims to reduce the burden on employers by minimizing paperwork while maintaining employee safety through exposure monitoring and medical surveillance. Comments are invited until April 21, 2025, and can be submitted electronically or by mail.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is seeking public comments on their proposal to continue the Office of Management and Budget's approval for collecting information related to confined spaces in construction sites. OSHA is focused on obtaining feedback about the necessity, accuracy, and efficiency of these information requirements. They also want to know how to reduce the burden on employers while ensuring safety standards are met. The public can submit their comments by April 27, 2021, through various methods, including online submissions at regulations.gov.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is seeking public comments on its proposal to renew the information collection requirements under the Temporary Labor Camp Standard. This renewal is part of efforts to ensure data collected is useful and efficiently formatted while minimizing the burden on businesses. An increase in reported cases has resulted in more workers living in contractor-provided housing, prompting OSHA to request a change in burden hours from 48 to 238. Comments can be submitted electronically via the Federal eRulemaking Portal until March 3, 2025.

The Department of Labor (DOL) is requesting public input on an information collection proposal related to the Unemployment Insurance State Quality Service Plan. This is part of a performance management system to improve unemployment services. Comments can be submitted until February 16, 2021, via the provided website, and the collection pertains to state, local, and tribal governments. The DOL is seeking approval for this data collection to continue for three years, and it estimates that 53 respondents will contribute a total of 3,975 hours annually.

The Department of Labor is proposing changes to improve the rules for administrative hearings before its Office of Administrative Law Judges. The main update is to require electronic filing and service of documents, making it easier and more efficient for lawyers and their clients. These rules also allow self-represented individuals to choose between electronic and traditional methods for filing papers. The Department has considered potential impacts and ensured that changes comply with relevant laws and regulations.

The Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Labor have issued a rule to expand the discretionary review authority of the Secretary of Labor to include certain H-2B temporary labor certification cases. This rule allows the Secretary to review cases that are pending before or have been decided by the Board of Alien Labor Certification Appeals (BALCA). The rule is part of a broader effort to ensure that internal processes are properly supervised by the Secretary and is expected to be used mainly for cases of notable importance. Public comments are encouraged, but significant adverse comments could halt the rule's implementation.

The Department of Labor's Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA) is inviting public comments on the continuation and extension of different information collection requests (ICRs) related to employee benefit plans. These ICRs cover various topics, including health plan enrollment notices, multiple employer welfare arrangements, and reporting procedures for top hat plans, among others. The public can submit their comments by March 7, 2025, and these comments will assist the Department in assessing the impact and effectiveness of these information requirements. The ICRs aim to help reduce the public's reporting burden and improve the understanding of the Department's data collection needs.