[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 212 (Friday, November 1, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Page 87422]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-25504]



[[Page 87422]]

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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR


Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission for OMB 
Review; Comment Request; Employment Information Form

ACTION: Notice of availability; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Labor (DOL) is submitting this Wage and Hour 
Division (WHD)-sponsored information collection request (ICR) to the 
Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval in 
accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA). Public 
comments on the ICR are invited.

DATES: The OMB will consider all written comments that the agency 
receives on or before December 2, 2024.

ADDRESSES: Written comments and recommendations for the proposed 
information collection should be sent within 30 days of publication of 
this notice to www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain. Find this particular 
information collection by selecting ``Currently under 30-day Review--
Open for Public Comments'' or by using the search function.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Nora Hernandez by telephone at 202-
693-8633, or by email at <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#c1858e8d9e9193809e9194838d888281a5aeadefa6aeb7"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="1c585350434c4e5d434c495e50555f5c787370327b736a">[email protected]</span></a>.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Department of Labor's (Department) Wage 
and Hour Division (WHD) is authorized to administer and enforce a 
variety of laws that establish the minimum standards for wages and 
working conditions in the United States. Collectively, these labor 
standards cover most private, State, and local government employment. 
These labor laws range from some of the earliest labor protections 
passed by Congress to some of the most recent. Although they differ in 
scope, all of the statutes enforced by WHD are intended to protect and 
to promote the welfare of the nation's workforce; to provide 
opportunities for advancement; to ensure fair compensation for work 
performed; and to level the playing field for responsible employers. 
The Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) minimum wage provisions and the 
government contract prevailing wage laws provide a floor for the 
payment of fair wages, while the FLSA overtime provisions are intended 
to broaden work opportunities and promote employment. The Migrant and 
Seasonal Agricultural Worker Protection Act (MSPA) and the immigration 
programs establish working conditions intended to protect the wages and 
the safety and health of vulnerable workers; to ensure that the local 
labor force is not displaced by lower paid foreign or migrant labor; 
and ensure employers that obey the law are not disadvantaged. The 
McNamara-O'Hara Service Contract Act (SCA) requires contractors and 
subcontractors performing services on prime contracts in excess of 
$2,500 to pay service employees in various classes no less than the 
wage rates and fringe benefits found prevailing in the locality, or the 
rates (including prospective increases) contained in a predecessor 
contractor's collective bargaining agreement. The Davis-Bacon and 
Related Acts (DBRA) require payment of prevailing wages on federal 
funded or assisted construction projects. The Family and Medical Leave 
Act (FMLA) was enacted to help workers balance family and work 
responsibilities and help keep middle class families in the middle 
class by providing job protection, and the child labor provisions of 
the FLSA ensure the safe employment of young workers; encourage their 
educational endeavors; and provide a path to future employment. The 
Department also administers portions of the Consumer Credit Protection 
Act, various Executive orders (E.O.) such as E.O. 13658, E.O. 14026, 
and E.O. 14055.
    In fiscal year 2023, WHD concluded 955 investigations that found 
child labor violations, a 14% increase from the previous year. WHD 
found nearly 5,800 children employed in violation of the law, an 88% 
increase since 2019, and assessed more than $8 million in penalties, an 
83% increase from the previous year. At WHD, safeguarding children at 
work has always been our top priority. WHD investigations found a 
significant increase in children being employed illegally and in 2023 
launched a National Strategic Enforcement Initiative on Child Labor to 
put additional emphasis on addressing this critical issue. As part of 
this initiative, the Department has designed a WHD contact form to 
better respond to potential child labor issues and potential 
complaints. This revision proposes to implement the contact form to 
better streamline Department responsiveness to child labor issues. For 
additional substantive information about this ICR, see the related 
notice published in the Federal Register on June 27, 2024 (89 FR 
53656).
    Comments are invited on: (1) whether the collection of information 
is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the 
Department, including whether the information will have practical 
utility; (2) if the information will be processed and used in a timely 
manner; (3) the accuracy of the agency's estimates of the burden and 
cost of the collection of information, including the validity of the 
methodology and assumptions used; (4) ways to enhance the quality, 
utility and clarity of the information collection; and (5) ways to 
minimize the burden of the collection of information on those who are 
to respond, including the use of automated collection techniques or 
other forms of information technology. To help ensure appropriate 
consideration, comments should reference OMB Control Number 1235-0021.
    This information collection is subject to the PRA. A Federal agency 
generally cannot conduct or sponsor a collection of information, and 
the public is generally not required to respond to an information 
collection, unless the OMB approves it and displays a currently valid 
OMB Control Number. In addition, notwithstanding any other provisions 
of law, no person shall generally be subject to penalty for failing to 
comply with a collection of information that does not display a valid 
OMB Control Number. See 5 CFR 1320.5(a) and 1320.6.
    DOL seeks PRA authorization for this information collection for 
three (3) years. OMB authorization for an ICR cannot be for more than 
three (3) years without renewal. The DOL notes that information 
collection requirements submitted to the OMB for existing ICRs receive 
a month-to-month extension while they undergo review. The Department of 
Labor seeks an approval for the revision of this information collection 
to ensure effective administration of the laws administered by the WHD.
    Agency: DOL-WHD.
    Title of Collection: Employment Information Form.
    OMB Control Number: 1235-0021.
    Affected Public: Businesses or other for-profits, Farms.
    Total Estimated Number of Respondents: 133,803.
    Total Estimated Number of Responses: 133,803.
    Total Estimated Annual Time Burden: 26,802 hours.
    Total Estimated Annual Other Costs Burden: $0.

(Authority: 44 U.S.C. 3507(a)(1)(D))

Nora Hernandez,
PRA Department Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 2024-25504 Filed 10-31-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-27-P


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