Search Results for agency_names:"Employment and Training Administration"

The Department of Labor has announced that its Assistant Secretary for Employment and Training has officially confirmed and approved (or "ratified") a rule concerning temporary and seasonal work needs for herding and livestock production under the H-2A Program. This rule, originally published in December 2021, outlines the process for employers requesting such labor needs. Despite some legal questions, the rule has been confirmed valid after a review. The Assistant Secretary emphasized that this move is just a precaution and doesn’t imply any legal issues with the rule's initial approval or publication.

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 Employment and Training Administration (ETA) announced the 2021 Adverse Effect Wage Rates (AEWR) for hiring temporary foreign workers (H-2A workers) for agricultural jobs, not including livestock herding. The AEWR sets the minimum wage employers must pay to ensure U.S. workers' wages are not negatively impacted. The announcement follows a court order requiring the Department to publish these rates by a specific deadline. The current 2021 rates are based on data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's 2020 Farm Labor Report and are effective immediately.

The U.S. Department of Labor issued a final rule to adjust civil monetary penalties for inflation, as required by the Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act. This rule, effective January 15, 2025, ensures that penalties keep up with inflation, applying a cost-of-living adjustment multiplier based on changes in the Consumer Price Index. The adjustments apply to penalties assessed after the effective date, maintaining the penalties' deterrent effect. This regulation does not consider public comments due to the non-discretionary nature of the inflation adjustments mandated by the Act.

The Employment and Training Administration of the Department of Labor has announced the final funding amounts for the National Farmworker Jobs Program (NFJP) Career Services and Training grants for Program Year 2024. This funding, totaling $90,134,000, is part of an ongoing effort outlined in previous Federal Register notices. The allotments are calculated using a method that adjusts based on the previous year's allocations and availability of funds. Some funds were redistributed to other states since not all states submitted competitive applications for the 2024 grants. Additionally, $6,591,000 is allocated for migrant and seasonal farmworker housing, promoting permanent housing development.

The Department of Labor has ratified a rule concerning the employment of H-2A nonimmigrant agricultural workers in the U.S. This action confirms and supports the rule published on October 12, 2022, which improved standards and procedures for employing these workers. The ratification aims to address any legal uncertainties about the rule's approval process and emphasizes the rule's balance between providing agricultural labor and safeguarding U.S. workers' wages and conditions. This decision was independently reviewed and affirmed by the Assistant Secretary for Employment and Training and the Administrator of the Wage and Hour Division.

The Department of Labor's Employment and Training Administration is asking for public comments on a proposed extension of the "Unemployment Compensation for Ex-Servicemembers, Handbook No. 384." The goal is to collect necessary data from State Workforce Agencies to assess the eligibility of ex-servicemembers for unemployment benefits. This process is part of efforts to reduce the paperwork burden. The public can submit comments until May 12, 2025, and these comments will be made publicly available online.

The Department of Labor issued summaries of decisions regarding whether workers can apply for trade adjustment assistance (TAA) under the Trade Act of 1974. These decisions are based on several criteria. Workers from firms that have either increased imports, shifted production to foreign countries, or become suppliers to other firms deemed eligible for assistance, could be certified to receive TAA. In some cases, investigations revealed that the criteria for assistance were not met, while in others, the determinations to terminate investigations were due to withdrawn petitions or coverage under existing certifications.

The Department of Labor is proposing changes to rules regarding filing and service in proceedings involving the Administrative Review Board. The new rules aim to make electronic filing (e-filing) and electronic service (e-service) mandatory for attorneys and representatives, while self-represented individuals will have the choice of using electronic or traditional methods. The proposed changes include updates to existing regulations, aiming for improved efficiency and reduced processing time by transitioning to electronic case files. Public comments on the proposed rulemaking are being solicited until February 10, 2021.

The Department of Labor's Employment and Training Administration (ETA) is inviting public comments on its proposal to extend the information collection request for the YouthBuild Reporting System. This initiative aims to reduce paperwork and the burden on respondents in line with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. Changes are proposed for the ETA-9143 form to improve clarity based on feedback, though no changes are planned for forms ETA-9136 and ETA-9138. The public has until March 5, 2021, to submit comments, which will be included in the final request for approval.