U.S. Department of Labor:update

 

Secretary Walsh announced a national effort to expand access to good, equitable union jobs and highlighted how we’re supporting workers, families and businesses.  U.S. Department of Labor January 28, 2022 How we’re improving job quality across the nation Last week, Secretary of Labor Marty Walsh delivered a keynote address that highlighted the current labor dynamics in the U.S., unveiling the Good Jobs Initiative, a national effort to improve job quality and create access to good-paying jobs. He also described the department’s efforts to support workers, families and businesses by protecting workers’ health, putting more money in workers’ pockets, expanding high-quality training for good-paying local jobs, modernizing our unemployment insurance system and more. Learn more about the Good Jobs Initiative. Watch Secretary Walsh’s speech. New report highlights shortcomings in providing mental health and substance-use disorder benefits Health plans and health insurance issuers aren’t delivering parity for mental health and substance-use disorder benefits, according to a new report. Read the press release. Learn why Secretary Walsh is committed to making mental health parity a priority. See how our Employee Benefits Security Administration is ramping up enforcement of the law. Encouraging vaccination in mining communities COVID-19 vaccines help prevent severe illness. Learn how we’re bringing free, voluntary vaccination clinics to mining operations in Kentucky and Arizona, where vaccination rates are reportedly below 60%. Raising the wage for federal contract workers Starting Jan. 30, 2022, the minimum wage for federal contract workers will increase to $15 per hour. Affecting more than 300,000 workers, this raise comes at a time of historic federal investment in our nation’s infrastructure that will help create millions of new jobs in construction and related industries. Advisory highlights Burma’s labor rights abuses and business risks Since a February 2021 coup, the Burmese military regime has targeted the country’s labor union movement, outlawing 16 labor unions, attacking striking workers, and arresting many union leaders and members. A Burma Business Advisory issued this week highlights the risks of doing business due to corruption, illicit finance and human rights abuses in the country. IN CASE YOU MISSED IT $7.2 million recovered A Virginia medical staffing agency must pay more than $7.2 million in back wages and damages after denying overtime to 1,105 certified nursing aides, licensed practical nurses and registered nurses. Back wages We filed suit against a federal contractor that failed to ensure its subcontractors paid 4,047 employees as required at 88 Iowa sites, resulting in $3.3 million in back wages due. Retirement restored Sixteen people in a retirement plan sponsored by a now defunct California construction company will receive nearly $1 million in assets after our investigation. Safety citation OSHA has cited a Chicago-area pizza manufacturer after a worker was fatally injured while cleaning a machine in July 2021. Overtime wages A Brooklyn bus and shuttle service must pay $742,500 in back wages and damages to 368 shuttle drivers, following an investigation and litigation. IN THE NEWS USA Today: How can US solve 'Great Resignation'? Create better jobs, Labor Secretary Marty Walsh says CNN: Biden administration takes new steps to address job quality amid record-setting resignations   Questions? Contact Us