BAD NEUENAHR, Germany – Speaking at the G-20 Labor and Employment Ministers' Meeting today, U.S. Secretary of Labor Alexander Acosta emphasized his support for fostering the growth of apprenticeships, a major priority for President Trump and the Department of Labor. The secretary's remarks reinforce the White House Office of American Innovation's commitment to increasing the number of quality apprenticeships, including expansion into high-growth, emerging sectors where apprenticeships have historically been

CANTON, Ohio – Republic Steel, an automotive steel manufacturer, faces $279,578 in proposed penalties from the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration after agency investigators found workers at its Canton plant exposed to machine hazards and lead. OSHA found one maintenance worker suffered severe injuries after being struck by an unguarded machine, and at least seven workers were exposed to excessive levels of lead, which can cause serious health i

In the week ending May 13, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 232,000, a decrease of 4,000 from the previous week's unrevised level of 236,000. The 4-week moving average was 240,750, a decrease of 2,750 from the previous week's unrevised average of 243,500. 

BAD NEUENAHR, Germany – U.S. Secretary of Labor Alexander Acosta delivered the following remarks at an opening session of the G20 Labor and Employment Ministers’ Meeting on women succeeding in the 21st century economy: “Thank you for this opportunity to speak about women succeeding in the 21st century economy. [[{"fid":"61421","view_mode":"default","type":"media","attributes":{"height":"233","width":"350","style":"float:right","class":"media-element file-default"}}]]“As the father of two wonderful s

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor invites news organizations that wish to participate in press lock-ups to renew or request credentials. The new credentials will be valid beginning in August 2017. News organizations with reporters and correspondents currently attending press lock-ups must reapply and complete the credentialing process described in the Policy Statement and News Organization Agreement. Both news organizations now participating in the

MUNICH – U.S. Secretary of Labor Alexander Acosta today visited the Munich headquarters and manufacturing plant of the BMW Group to tour the automotive company’s production and technical apprenticeship training facility. Secretary Acosta traveled to Germany to attend the G20 Labor and Employment Ministers’ Meeting, which begins in Bad Neuenahr on Thursday, May 18.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Secretary of Labor Alexander Acosta is traveling to Germany to tour the BMW Group's apprenticeship training facility in Munich and attend the G20 Labor and Employment Ministers' Meeting in Bad Neuenahr. On Wednesday, May 17, Secretary Acosta will visit the BMW Group's headquarters and manufacturing plant to tour the automotive company's apprenticeship training facility. The secretary will meet with Harald Krüger, chairman of the BMW AG Board of Management, along with other executives of the company. The extensive tour will include opport

In the week ending May 6, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 236,000, a decrease of 2,000 from the previous week's unrevised level of 238,000. The 4-week moving average was 243,500, an increase of 500 from the previous week's unrevised average of 243,000.

BOSTON – A federal appeals court has affirmed that Pan Am Railways, Inc., must pay $260,000 in punitive and compensatory damages to – and take corrective action on behalf of – an employee who was subjected to retaliation for filing a Federal Railroad Safety Act whistleblower complaint. The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration investigated the complaint, filed in 2011, against the North Billerica-based commercial railroad and

WASHINGTON – U.S. Secretary of Labor Alexander Acosta issued the following statement on the April 2017 Employment Situation report: “This month’s job report shows that the unemployment rate ticked down to 4.4 percent, the lowest level since 2007. Total nonfarm payroll employment rose by 211,000 jobs in April, compared with 79,000 jobs in March. The number of Americans who are discouraged from looking for work continues to decline. April job gains were solid in most industries and particularly stro

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor announced it will establish the HIRE Vets Medallion Program to recognize employers who recruit, retain, and employ veterans, and who offer charitable services in support of the veteran community. The department is establishing the program under the Honoring Investments in Recruiting and Employing American Military Veterans Act, or HIRE Vets Act. President Donald J. Trump signed the act into law today. “Veterans give an incredible gift to this country, and that giving doesn’t stop when they leave the military.  F

In the week ending April 29, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 238,000, a decrease of 19,000 from the previous week's unrevised level of 257,000. The 4-week moving average was 243,000, an increase of 750 from the previous week's unrevised average of 242,250.

OREGON, Ohio – An auto insulation manufacturer in suburban Toledo faces $569,463 in proposed penalties after a U.S. Department of Labor Occupational Safety and Health Administration investigation following a report that a machine amputated a 46-year-old worker’s right hand, wrist and part of his forearm. Investigators found the injury occurred while the worker at Autoneum North America was guiding waste materials into a shredding machine. His arm was caught in the machine’s point of operation­­– a circular drum that shr

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – As  Midwest residents deal with historic flooding in southeastern Missouri, the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration urges workers and the public at-large to be aware of the hazards they may encounter and what steps are needed to protect themselves as they begin clean-up activities. OSHA resource officers are headed to hard-hit areas to assist local emergency responders with advice and informatio

NEW YORK – The U.S. Department of Labor has obtained a consent judgment in federal court requiring a New York City design and construction company and its owners to pay $726,989 in back wages and liquidated damages to 184 employees and take other corrective actions to resolve past overtime and recordkeeping violations of the federal Fair Labor Standards Act. Design Development NYC, Inc., had misclassified almost all of its employees as independent contractors, an investigation by the department’s Wage and Hour Divisi

WASHINGTON – In the first three months of 2017, five miners died in accidents that occurred when they were working alone on mine property. To raise awareness of the potential dangers in doing so, the U.S. Department of Labor’s Mine Safety and Health Administration has launched an initiative to focus on the hazards miners may encounter when they work in areas away from others. MSHA announced the campaign during its

PHILADELPHIA – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division is conducting a construction survey in Vermont to collect data on wages paid to workers to help establish prevailing wage rates, as required under the Davis-Bacon and Related Acts. The survey includes wages paid on all building construction, heavy construction and highway construction projects in the state that occurred between Feb. 1, 2016, and Jan. 31, 2017. It is not limited to federa

OKLAHOMA CITY – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division is conducting a survey of residential construction projects in metropolitan Oklahoma counties to help establish prevailing wage rates as required under the Davis-Bacon and Related Acts. The division is collecting data on wages paid to workers on all residential construction projects statewide from Oct. 1, 2015, to Jan. 31, 2017. The survey is not limited to federally funded projects.

Participants: U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration Holder Construction Group LLC Partnership: The strategic partnership will protect and educate workers on construction hazards during the building of the DuPont CH3 Data Center project in Elk Grove Village, Illinois. The partnership was developed jointly by OSHA and general contractor Holder Construction Group as well as by the state’s Labor Department On-site Safety and H

SAN DIEGO – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration has signed an alliance with the local Shipyard Workers Union to promote workplace safety and health, provide guidance and training programs for workers, and raise awareness of hazardous operations on ships during building and repair periods. The alliance will benefit an estimated 1,600 Southern California shipyard workers. “Our alliance with the Shipyard Workers Union sets the foundation to reduce worker illness and injuries, and remin