⛏️Proposed Extension of Emergency Mine Evacuation Information Collection
The Department of Labor (DOL), as part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, conducts a pre- clearance consultation program for all information collections, to provide the public and Federal agencies with an opportunity to comment on proposed collections of information, in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. This program helps to ensure that requested data can be provided in the desired format, reporting burden (time and financial resources) is minimized, collection instruments are clearly understood, and the impact of collection requirements on respondents can be properly assessed. The Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) is soliciting comments on the information collection titled "Emergency Mine Evacuation."
Learn More🌾Proposed Rule to Rescind H-2A Labor Regulation Requirements
The Department of Labor (Department or DOL) is proposing to amend its regulations governing the certification of agricultural labor or services to be performed by temporary foreign workers in H-2A nonimmigrant status (H-2A workers) and enforcement of the contractual obligations applicable to employers of such nonimmigrant workers. This notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM or proposed rule) that would rescind provisions contained within a final rule published by the Department on April 29, 2024, which adopted a number of unnecessary, burdensome, and costly requirements on employers. Specifically, these provisions include, but are not limited to, substantial new requirements associated with the material terms and conditions offered by employers to H-2A workers that are not commonly provided to other U.S. workers, including progressive discipline policies for cause-based employment terminations, anti-retaliation measures for certain workers engaged in self-organization and other concerted activities, and expanding the authority and scope for a State Workforce Agency (SWA) to discontinue employment services to employers, which prevents those employers from accessing the H-2A program, while eliminating employers' option to request a hearing prior to the SWA's final determination. Further, the final rule imposed extensive highly-sensitive data collection requirements on employers related to their use of foreign labor recruiters, including personal names and physical addresses abroad, as well as detailed personal information associated with all owners of the employers, operators of the place(s) of employment, and supervisor(s) and manager(s) of workers employed under the terms of the work contract, with very limited or no practical utility to the agency's statutory decision making. A brief summary of this rulemaking can be found at www.regulations.gov by searching by the RIN: 1205-AC25.
Learn More🛡️Proposed Amendments to OSHA Asbestos Standards Impacting Businesses
This proposed rule revises some substance-specific respirator requirements to allow different types of respirators to be used under OSHA's Asbestos standards and better aligns these standards with OSHA's Respiratory Protection standard.
Learn More📄Proposed Rule on Minor Child Definition for Labor Reporting
This proposed rule is soliciting public comments regarding revisions to the definition of "minor child" as that term appears in 29 CFR 404.1(h) and on the Form LM-30 Labor Organization Officer and Employee Report.
Learn More📜Simplification of ERISA Regulations through Bulletin Removal
This DFR removes from the Code of Federal Regulations prospectively certain interpretive bulletins under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 that the Department of Labor (DOL) believes are obsolete. The obsolete interpretive bulletins were published shortly after ERISA's enactment in 1974 to provide compliance assistance for employee benefit plans, plan sponsors and fiduciaries. Because of subsequent guidance issued by the DOL, and the effect of Reorganization Plan No. 4 of 1978, the DOL believes the interpretive bulletins are no longer needed, and if left on the books, add potential confusion and unnecessary complexity. Removing obsolete regulations eliminates the burden on the public of having to determine whether they need to comply with the regulations. This action is being taken pursuant to Executive Order 14192, titled Unleashing Prosperity Through Deregulation (90 FR 9065, Feb. 6, 2025). This action improves the daily lives of the American people by reducing unnecessary, burdensome, and costly Federal regulations.
Learn More⚒️Proposed Rule to Rescind Outdated Coal Mine Safety Regulations
MSHA proposes to rescind requirements for the final mining of pillars. This practice is outdated and no longer used due to safety concerns.
Learn More❌Rescission of Nondiscrimination Provisions Under Workforce Investment Act
The U.S. Department of Labor (the Department) is rescinding its regulations implementing the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 (WIA) containing the nondiscrimination and equal-opportunity provisions of WIA. In 2014, Congress passed the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA), which repealed WIA and required the Secretary of Labor to transition any authority under WIA to the system created by WIOA. Therefore, the Department is taking this action to remove regulations for a program that is no longer operative.
Learn More😷OSHA Proposes Changes to Cotton Dust Respirator Standards
This proposed rule revises some substance-specific respirator requirements to allow different types of respirators to be used under OSHA's Cotton Dust standard and better aligns this standard with OSHA's Respiratory Protection standard.
Learn More🛡️OSHA Proposes Regulatory Changes for Coke Oven Emission Standards
This proposed rule would revise some substance-specific respirator requirements to allow different types of respirators to be used under OSHA's Coke Oven Emissions standard and better align this standard with OSHA's Respiratory Protection standard.
Learn More🔥Proposed Removal of Open Fires Standard in Marine Terminals
This proposed rule removes OSHA's Open Fires in Marine Terminals Standard from the Code of Federal Regulations.
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