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U.S. Department of Labor
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The U.S. Department of Labor is assisting in the recovery efforts in the Midwest communities affected by this season's floods. For general questions and assistance, please contact DOL's National Contact Center at 1-866-4-USA-DOL (1-866-487-2365)
The Department of Labor support includes the following income and job assistance:
- National Emergency Grants (NEGs)
Impacted states can apply for NEG funds that can be used to temporarily employ dislocated workers. These funds can be used to employ workers on projects that provide food, clothing, shelter and other humanitarian assistance for disaster victims.
Learn how to apply for a National Emergency Grant.
- Announced Grants in Affected Areas
- Emergency Job Information
Spread the word about Emergency Job Information with people in your community by downloading, printing and sharing this informational flyer.
- Employee Retirement, Health, and Other Benefits
The Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA) has announced an extension of the deadline for filing Form 5500 and Form 5500 EZ annual report/returns due to damages from severe storms, tornadoes and flooding in Arkansas, Indiana, Iowa, Missouri and Wisconsin. President Bush has declared disaster areas in all five states. The extension applies to plan administrators, employers and other entities located in areas directly affected, as identified by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Filers who have additional questions may contact EBSA's EFAST Help Line toll-free at 1-866-463-3278.
- Announced Deadline Extensions in Affected Areas
- Information on Wages
Wage and Hour Division (WHD) staff in the Midwest Region are available to provide service to complainants on last paycheck and other wage related issues. WHD staff will also provide compliance assistance to employers and employees on the application of federal law in emergency and disaster relief situations. Employers and employees can call 1-866-4US-WAGE (1-866-487-9243) for help on wage-related issues. All calls are treated confidentially.
- Employment and Job Training
One-Stop Career Centers can provide assistance to evacuees and other survivors of the recent floods find employment and training opportunities. Targeted assistance is available to people based on individual needs through the nationwide network of 3,500 One-Stop Career Centers located across the country.
- Occupational Safety and Health
The Department's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is making available technical assistance and resources to help protect those participating in cleanup and recovery efforts. Please visit the OSHA Flood and Tornado Cleanup and Recovery Web page or review these fact sheets on natural disaster recovery from OSHA:
- Service Contract Act
The Service Contract Act (SCA), which generally applies to federally-funded clean-up activities following a disaster, 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. For more information on the SCA, visit http://www.dol.gov/esa/whd/contracts/sca.htm
- Davis-Bacon Regulations for Federal Contractors
The Davis-Bacon Act requires all contractors and subcontractors performing work on federal or District of Columbia construction contracts or federally assisted contracts in excess of $2,000 to pay their laborers and mechanics not less than the prevailing wage rates and fringe benefits for corresponding classes of laborers and mechanics employed on similar projects in the area. In addition to the Davis-Bacon Act itself, Congress has added prevailing wage provisions to approximately 60 statutes which assist construction projects through grants, loans, loan guarantees, and insurance. These are referred to as “Related Acts.” For more information on the Davis-Bacon and Related Acts, visit http://www.dol.gov/esa/whd/contracts/dbra.htm
For information on other available Federal resources, please visit http://www.usa.gov/flooding.shtml
For information on the latest Federal Disaster Declarations by state and county, please visit http://www.fema.gov/news/disasters.fema
