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"Russian Consumer Goods Market" Webinar March 5, 2020, 11 - 12 p.m. ET $50 per participant Learn about Russia's overall market, economic trends, and the consumer goods sub-sectors.     Speakers from the U.S. Commercial Service, Macro-Advisor Consulting Agency, Best Logistics Company and Nike will be available. Russia Consumer Goods Market Flyer ====================== U.S. Department of Labor February 21, 2020 $100 Million for Apprenticeships On Tuesday, the Department announced investments in 28 public-private apprenticeship partnerships totaling nearly $100 million through the Apprenticeship: Closing the Skills Gap grant program. These grants will support the training of more than 92,000 individuals in new or expanded apprenticeship programs in advanced manufacturing, healthcare, and information technology—including cybersecurity and artificial intelligence. U.S. Secretary of Labor Eugene Scalia made the announcement during a visit to North Carolina State University, one of the grantees. Skills Training During his trip to North Carolina, Secretary Scalia saw apprenticeships in action at EGGER Wood Products in Linwood. The apprentices he met with shared how they are gaining valuable skills that employers need. Secretary Scalia highlighted the Administration's actions to close the skills gap, cut red tape, and secure fair trade agreements that will create even more opportunities for American workers. Workforce Growth in North Carolina Secretary Scalia met with North Carolina business leaders, educators, and civic leaders this week. At a roundtable with the Greensboro Chamber of Commerce, he discussed apprenticeships, deregulation, closing the skills gap and the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement. He also highlighted the importance of hiring veterans and promoted the Department's HIRE Vets Medallion Award during a meeting with Duke Energy officials and local leaders. Women Trailblazers The Department's Women's Bureau and Veterans' Employment and Training Service hosted "Women in Service: A Conversation with Four Military Leaders on Blazing Trails in the Armed Forces" to celebrate the achievements of women military leaders and identify opportunities for women to succeed in all industries and occupations. IN CASE YOU MISSED IT Opioid Grant The Department will provide up to $6,281,891 in dislocated worker grant funding to Maine to help workers impacted by the opioid crisis return to the workforce. Fall Hazards OSHA cited an Illinois homebuilder for exposing workers to falls, and proposed $333,968 in penalties for willful and repeat violations. Back Pay A Louisiana contractor has paid $78,038 in back wages and fringe benefits to 12 workers following a Wage and Hour Division investigation. Safety Violations OSHA cited a Georgia mulch manufacturer for amputation and struck-by hazards, and proposed $148,867 in penalties. Financial Security On February 27, during America Saves Week, join our free webinar for tips on building financial security for people with disabilities. Discrimination Resolution Time Warner Cable will pay $745,000 in back wages and interest to resolve allegations of hiring discrimination at three facilities. STAT OF THE WEEK Apprenticeship Boom Employers have hired more than 705,000 new apprentices since the start of 2017. COMPLIANCE ASSISTANCE HIGHLIGHT Union Officer Responsibilities The Office of Labor-Management Standards has created a guide for new union officers on carrying out their duties in compliance with the Labor-Management Reporting and Disclosure Act.                      ==================== On Dec. 6, 2019, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services announced that we would implement the electronic registration process for the fiscal year (FY) 2021 H-1B cap. Prospective petitioners seeking to file H-1B cap-subject petitions, including those filing for beneficiaries eligible for the advanced degree exemption, must first electronically register with USCIS. Submitting an H-1B registration requires a USCIS online account. The appropriate type depends on the submitter’s role: Representatives will use the same type of representative account that is already available and may use an existing account. Prospective petitioners submitting their own registrations (U.S. employers and U.S. agents, collectively known as “registrants”) will use a new “registrant” account that will be available beginning Feb. 24. Representatives may add clients to their accounts at any time, but both representatives and registrants must wait until March 1 at noon Eastern to enter beneficiary information, submit registrations and pay the $10 non-refundable registration fee for each beneficiary. The initial registration period will run from noon Eastern March 1 through noon Eastern March 20, 2020. Account creation and registration will remain available throughout this period; selections will take place after the initial registration period closes, so there is no requirement to register on March 1. If USCIS receives enough registrations by March 20, we will randomly select registrations and send selection notifications via users’ USCIS online accounts. We intend to notify account holders by March 31, 2020. An H-1B cap-subject petition may only be filed by a petitioner whose registration for that beneficiary was selected in the H-1B registration process. For more information, visit the H-1B Electronic Registration Process page. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services today announced that the application period for those seeking the new Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) long-term resident status will open on February 19, 2020.  Eligible aliens will have 180 days to apply for the new status, which was created by the Northern Mariana Islands Long-Term Legal Residents Relief Act (48 U.S.C. 1806(e)(6)), signed by President Trump on June 25, 2019. Applicants must file Form I-955, Application for CNMI Long-Term Resident Status, together with Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization, by August 17, 2020. CNMI long-term resident status is not the same thing as lawful permanent residence and does not lead to lawful permanent resident status. To be eligible for the CNMI long-term resident status, an alien must fall into one or more of the following categories: Certain “stateless” individuals: Foreign nationals born in the CNMI between Jan. 1, 1974, and Jan. 9, 1978. Immediate relatives of qualifying “stateless” individuals: Spouses and unmarried children under the age of 21 of foreign nationals born in the CNMI between Jan. 1, 1974, and Jan. 9, 1978.  CNMI permanent residents under CNMI immigration law: Individuals who were permanent residents of the CNMI on Nov. 27, 2009. Immediate relatives of qualifying CNMI permanent residents: Spouses and unmarried children under the age of 21 of an individual who was a permanent resident of the CNMI on Nov. 27, 2009. Immediate relatives of U.S. citizens: Individuals who, on Nov. 27, 2011, were either a spouse, child or parent of a U.S. citizen, and continue to have such family relationship with the citizen. In-home caregivers: Caregivers of critical medical or special needs individuals in the CNMI who on Dec. 31, 2018, had a grant of parole under the former USCIS parole program for certain in-home caregivers. Additionally, they must: Have been lawfully present in the CNMI on Dec. 31, 2018, or June 25, 2019, under the immigration laws of the United States, including under a grant of parole under section 212(d)(5) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1182(d)(5)) or deferred action; Be admissible as an immigrant to the United States under the INA (8 U.S.C. 1101 et seq.), except that no immigrant visa is required; Have resided continuously and lawfully in the CNMI from Nov. 28, 2009, through June 25, 2019; and Not be a citizen of the Republic of the Marshall Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia or the Republic of Palau USCIS is accepting CW-1 petitions filed under the Disaster Recovery Act. If you want us to consider your case under the Disaster Recovery Act, you should submit Form I-129CW, Petition for a CNMI-Only Nonimmigrant Transitional Worker, along with a cover sheet stating “CNMI Disaster Recovery Workforce Act Eligible” in large, bold letters, and evidence to show that a worker: Is performing service or labor under a contract or subcontract for construction, repairs, renovations or facility services directly connected to, or associated with recovery from a presidentially declared major disaster or emergency (as those terms are defined in section 102 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. section 5122)); or Is performing service or labor under a contract or subcontract for construction, repairs, renovations or facility services directly connected to preparation for a future disaster or emergency. Prospective employers may only petition under the Disaster Recovery Act for CW-1 construction workers who are nationals of a country designated as eligible to participate in the H-2B visa program during calendar year 2018, as identified in the Federal Register notice. The general prohibition against CW-1 construction workers and its exception for workers who have maintained CW-1 status since before Oct. 1, 2015, continue to apply for CW-1 petitions that are not eligible under the Disaster Recovery Act. In the coming weeks, we will announce additional guidance for petitions filed under the Disaster Recovery Act. Until then, CW-1 petitioners should continue to follow all other current USCIS regulations and procedures as applicable for CW-1 workers, including that all CW-1 filings must include an approved temporary labor certification from the U.S. Department of Labor. Background Information The recent Further Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2020 established the CNMI Disaster Recovery Workforce Act (Disaster Recovery Act), Pub. L. 116-94, Title IX. Effective immediately, the Disaster Recovery Act increases the CW-1 cap by 3,000 for fiscal years 2020, 2021 and 2022 for construction and extraction occupations for certain aliens performing service or labor directly connected to, or associated with recovery from a presidentially declared major disaster or emergency, or for preparation for a future disaster or emergency.                                  ======================= Did you know that census responses inform the distribution of billions of dollars in federal funds for services that benefit children? Reminder: Census Bureau to Host Festival to Ensure All Children Are Counted The U.S. Census Bureau and the Federation of Pediatric Organizations are partnering to reduce the undercount of children. Together, they will host a free event for children this Saturday, Feb. 22, at the Great Lakes Science Center in Cleveland, Ohio. The news conference and event will focus on promoting the importance of counting young children during the 2020 Census. Learn More Before the event, Census Bureau Director Dr. Steven Dillingham and the Federation of Pediatric Organizations will hold a news conference to announce a major effort to ensure young children are counted in the census beginning next month. National and local partners, including The Rainey Institute, Sesame Workshop, and Dr. Seuss Enterprises, will provide engaging activities for young children and their families. The Great Lakes Science Center is offering free admission to attend the 2020 Census event. When: Saturday, Feb. 22, 2020 9-10 a.m.  Press Conference 10 a.m.-1 p.m.  Family Festival Where: Great Lakes Science Center 601 Erieside Ave., Cleveland, Ohio  44114 Who: The following individuals are currently confirmed to attend: Dr. Steven Dillingham, Director, U.S. Census Bureau Kirsten M. Ellenbogen, Ph.D., President and CEO, Great Lakes Science Center Judy Aschner, M.D., Chairperson, Federation of Pediatric Organizations Helen Forbes Fields, Executive Vice President and General Counsel, United Way Tracy Garrett, Government Affairs, Sesame Workshop RSVP: Partners who wish to attend the event and news conference in person should RSVP here by 11 p.m. EST, Friday, Feb. 21. If you wish to participate via livestream, select that option when you RSVP and you will receive an email confirmation with a link to the livestream. RSVP About the 2020 Census and Young Children Census responses inform the distribution of billions of dollars in federal funds for services that benefit children, including food assistance, Head Start, childcare, housing support, public schools, early intervention services for children with special needs, and children’s health insurance. A newborn or toddler counted in the 2020 Census as of April 1, 2020, will be in or completing elementary school during the next census in 2030. It is important to count them now so they benefit from critical childhood services over the next 10 years.