May 14, 2024 โ The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) is pushing for a revision to a 15-year-old determination that child labor is prevalent in Thailandโs shrimp sector.
Thai shrimp were added to the DOLโs annual โList of Goods Produced by Child Labor or Forced Laborโ since 2009, which requires importers to go through a series of additional checks to ensure forced or indentured child labor was not employed to produce any shrimp they buy from Thailand.
August 27, 2021 โ Crowley, Louisiana, U.S.A.-based Acadia Processors has paid USD 138,629 (EUR 118,000) after an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor found it owed back wages to 100 employees.
In June 2020, the Center for Migrant Rights filed a whistleblower complaint with the departmentโs Occupational Safety and Health Administration on behalf of two former Acadia Processors workers who tested positive for COVID-19.
January 21, 2021 โ The U.S. announced late last week several moves officials hope will curb illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing in the Caribbean and Latin America.
On Friday, 15 January, the U.S. Department of Labor issued a news release stating it plans to make available up to USD 8 million (EUR 6.6 million) in grant funding through its Bureau of International Labor Affairs. The bureauโs mission is to push for a fair playing field for workers in the U.S. and across the world by fighting child and illegal labor practices and bolstering labor standards worldwide.
December 8, 2020 โ U.S. restaurant groups are urging Congress to provide immediate financial help for the hard-hit industry, as new dining restrictions are expected to increase financial burdens and cause more restaurants to close.
An estimated 110,000 restaurants have already closed their doors since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the National Restaurant Association. In November alone, food and beverage establishments lost 17,400 jobs โ the first month since April the industry has lost jobs, according to new U.S. Department of Labor data.
March 13, 2020 โ The following Small Business Administration (SBA) loan opportunities and new Labor Department guidance announced yesterday by the Trump Administration may be of interest to commercial fishing companies.
The following was released by the SBA:
Small Business Administration Will Provide Disaster Assistance Loans (link)
SBAโs Economic Injury Disaster Loans offer up to $2 million in assistance for a small business. These loans can provide vital economic support to small businesses to help overcome the temporary loss of revenue they are experiencing. Further resources can be found in the attached document as well as on SBAโs website: www.SBA.gov/coronavirus and www.SBA.gov/disaster. The announcement is available here: https://www.sba.gov/about-sba/sba-newsroom/press-releases-media-advisories/sba-provide-disaster-assistance-loans-small-businesses-impacted-coronavirus-covid-19
Read more about the SBAโs response to COVID-19 here
The following was released by the Labor Department:
Department of Labor Announces New Guidance on Unemployment Insurance Flexibilities (link)
Today DOL announced new guidance outlining flexibilities that states have in administering their unemployment insurance (UI) programs to assist Americans affected by the COVID-19 outbreak. States will be able to pay benefits where: (1) An employer temporarily ceases operations due to COVID-19, preventing employees from coming to work; (2) An individual is quarantined with the expectation of returning to work after the quarantine is over; and (3) An individual leaves employment due to a risk of exposure or infection or to care for a family member. In addition, federal law does not require an employee to quit in order to receive benefits due to the impact of COVID-19.The full announcement is available here: https://www.dol.gov/newsroom/releases/eta/eta20200312-0
February 14, 2019 โ A high-ranking House Democrat called on Wednesday, 13 February, for the Trump administration to withdraw the nomination of Barry Myers to lead NOAA after reports showed his former company paid USD 290,000 (EUR 256,832) in a settlement of sexual harassment claims that happened during his time as its chief executive officer.
Earlier this week, the Centre Daily Times reported the Department of Laborโs Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs determined AccuWeather created a hostile work environment for women. Four women, who left the company between 1 January, 2014, and 21 December, 2017, have already claimed awards. More than 30 other former employees have agreed to the settlement.
In response, U.S. Rep. Raul Grijalva, D-Arizona, called on President Trump to pull Myers, citing NOAAโs own history sexual harassment and assault claims. The chairman of the House Natural Resources Committee said in a statement he hopes a new nominee would be able to โimprove the agencyโs troubling recordโ on maintaining a safe work environment.
โFederal employees have been subjected to the presidentโs unpopular ideas about sexual harassment and women in the workplace for the past two years,โ Grijalva said. โTrumpโs nomination of Mr. Myers sends the wrong message about his care for the agencies and people he oversees. He has a chance to do much better, and he should take it.โ
Grijalvaโs statement noted NOAA officials recently began taking steps to reduce sexual harassment and assault but the agency still continues to face claims of harassment and retaliation.
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