WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. Department of Labor last week announced a series of actions ranging from new training for federal contractors to major enforcement initiatives aimed at protecting workers’ rights, safety, and job opportunities.
The department’s Wage and Hour Division will host its final fiscal year webinars on prevailing wage requirements for federal contractors Sept. 24-25. The online sessions will cover the Davis-Bacon and Related Acts, the Service Contract Act, and other regulations tied to federally funded construction and service contracts. Registration is free but required.
On the enforcement front, federal safety officials cited Jacksonville-based Elo Restoration LLC with 10 violations and proposed $752,846 in penalties after finding employees worked without fall protection. Investigators linked the violations to a worker’s hospitalization after falling through a skylight. “Workplace safety is non-negotiable,” said Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer, stressing the agency’s commitment to holding employers accountable.
The department also released its latest unemployment insurance data. For the week ending Sept. 13, initial claims fell sharply to 231,000, down 33,000 from the prior week. The four-week average dipped slightly to 240,000, while insured unemployment remained steady at 1.3 percent.
In Ohio, the department awarded a $2 million National Dislocated Worker Grant to aid 780 employees affected by the closure of the Pixelle Specialty Solutions paper mill in Chillicothe. The funding, administered through the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services, will support retraining and workforce development in eight surrounding counties.
Capping the week, the department unveiled Project Firewall, a sweeping enforcement initiative targeting abuse of the H-1B visa program. For the first time, the Secretary of Labor will personally certify investigations of suspected violators, an effort aimed at prioritizing qualified American workers for high-skill jobs. Employers found in violation could face back wage orders, civil penalties, or debarment from the program.
“By rooting out fraud and abuse, the Department of Labor and our federal partners will ensure that highly skilled jobs go to Americans first,” Secretary Chavez-DeRemer said.
The new initiative will be carried out in coordination with the Department of Justice, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.
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