Proposed Collection; Comment Request [Notices] [05/18/2000]
Proposed Collection; Comment Request [05/18/2000]
Volume 65, Number 97, Page 31608-31609
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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
Employment Standards Administration
Proposed Collection; Comment Request
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: The Department of Labor, as part of its continuing effort to
reduce paperwork and respondent burden, conducts a preclearance
consultation program to provide the general public and Federal agencies
with an opportunity to comment on proposed and/or continuing
collections of information in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction
Act of 1995 (PRA95) [44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)]. 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.
Currently, the Employment Standards Administration is soliciting
comments concerning the proposed extension collection of the following:
(1) Rehabilitation Maintenance Certificate (OWCP-17); and Application
to Employ Homeworkers (WH-46), Piece Rate Measurements, and Homeworker
Handbook (WH-75). Copies of the proposed information collection
requests can be obtained by contacting the office listed below in the
ADDRESSES section of this Notice.
DATES: Written comments must be submitted to the office listed in the
addresses section below on or before July 17, 2000.
ADDRESSES: Ms. Patricia A. Forkel, U.S. Department of Labor, 200
Constitution Ave., NW, Room S-3201, Washington, DC 20210, telephone
(202) 693-0339 (this is not a toll-free number), fax (202) 693-1451.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Rehabilitation Maintenance Certificate (OWCP-17)
I. Background
The Office of Workers' Compensation Programs (OWCP) administers the
Longshore and Harbor Workers' Compensation Act and the Federal
Employees' Compensation Act. These Acts provide employment
rehabilitation benefits to eligible injured workers. The OWCP-17 is a
form which is submitted, signed, and dated by an injured worker
receiving rehabilitation services to request reimbursement from OWCP
for expenses incurred as a result of participation in an approved
rehabilitation effort. The form requires the signature of a facility
official to verify that the employee is in attendance at the program.
II. Review Focus
The Department of Labor is particularly interested in comments
which:
<bullet> Evaluate whether the proposed collection of information is
necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency,
including whether the information will have practical utility;
<bullet> Evaluate the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the
burden of the proposed collection of information, including the
validity of the methodology and assumptions used;
<bullet> Enhance the quality, utility and clarity of the
information to be collected; and
<bullet> Minimize the burden of the collection of information on
those who are to respond, including through the use of appropriate
automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection
techniques or other forms of information technology, e.g., permitting
electronic submissions of responses.
III. Current Actions
The Department of Labor seeks the extension of approval to collect
this information in order to carry out its responsibility to provide
vocational rehabilitation services to injured workers currently
unemployed as a result of their injury, to enhance their employment
potential.
Type of Review: Extension.
Agency: Employment Standards Administration.
Title: Rehabilitation Maintenance Certificate.
OMB Number: 1215-0161.
Agency Number: OWCP-17.
Affected Public: Individuals or households, Businesses or other
for-profit; Not-for-profit institutions.
Total Respondents: 1,300.
Frequency: Monthly.
Total Responses: 15,600.
Average Time per Response: 10 minutes.
Estimated Total Burden Hours: 2,605.
Total Burden Cost (capital/startup): $0.
[[Page 31609]]
Total Burden Cost (operating/maintenance): $0.
Application to Employ Homeworkers, (WH-46), Piece Rate
Measurements, and Homeworker Handbook (WH-75)
I. Background
Section 11(d) of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) authorizes the
Secretary of Labor to regulate, restrict, or prohibit industrial
homework as necessary to prevent evasion of the minimum requirements of
the Act. Restrictions exist on seven homework industries, (knitted
outerwear, women's apparel, jewelry manufacturing, gloves and mittens,
button and buckle manufacturing, handkerchief manufacturing, and
embroideries). Homework in these industries is permitted only in
certain hardship cases. Homework is permitted under the FLSA in all
other industries, provided the employer maintains homeworker handbooks
for such employees which record hours of work and certain other
required payroll information. Further, employers of homeworkers in
certain restricted industries must first obtain a certification from
the Department of Labor authorizing the employment of such workers.
Employers in the restricted industries under the certification program
who pay workers based on piece rates must maintain documentation of the
work measurements used to establish such piece rates and the
circumstances under which measurements were conducted.
II. Review Focus
The Department of Labor is particularly interested in comments
which:
<bullet> Evaluate whether the proposed collection of information is
necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency,
including whether the information will have practical utility;
<bullet> Evaluate the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the
burden of the proposed collection of information, including the
validity of the methodology and assumptions used;
<bullet> Enhance the quality, utility and clarity of the
information to be collected; and
<bullet> Minimize the burden of the collection of information on
those who are to respond, including through the use of appropriate
automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection
techniques or other forms of information technology, e.g., permitting
electronic submissions of responses.
III. Current Actions
The Department of Labor seeks the extension of approval to collect
this information in order assure compliance with the FLSA in homework
employment.
Type of Review: Extension.
Agency: Employment Standards Administration.
Title: Application to Employ Homeworkers.
OMB Number: 1215-0013.
Affected Public: Business or other for-profit; Individuals or
households; Not-for-profit institutions.
Frequency: On occasion.
Reporting Burden:
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Average time
Title Agency No. No. of No. of per Burden hours
respondents responses response
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Application To Employ Homeworkers......... WH-46 71 36 30 min. 18
Homeworker Handbooks...................... WH-75 4,684 18,736 30 min. 9,368
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Recordkeeping Burden:
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No. of No. of Average time
Title recordkeepers records per response Burden hours
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Piece Rate Measurement.............................. 71 213 60\1/2\ min. 215
Homeworker Handbook................................. 1,171 18,736 \1/2\ min. 156
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Total Respondents (Recordkeeping and Reporting): 4,755.
Total Annual Responses (Recordkeeping and Reporting): 18,772.
Estimated Total Burden Hours (Recordkeeping and Reporting): 9,757.
Total Burden Cost (capital/startup): $0.
Total Burden Cost (operating/maintenance): $0.
Comments submitted in response to this notice will be summarized
and/or included in the request for Office of Management and Budget
approval of the information collection request; they will also become a
matter of public record.
Dated: May 12, 2000.
Margaret J. Sherrill,
Chief, Branch of Management Review and Internal Control, Division of
Financial Management, Office of Management, Administration and
Planning, Employment Standards Administration.
[FR Doc. 00-12506 Filed 5-17-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-47-P
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