U.S. Department of Labor Employment Standards Administration

Wage and Hour Division (WHD)

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National News Releases

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Links to Press Release from Previous Years: 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 1997

National

2008

• U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division reopens Houston office to assist victims of Hurricane Ike - [10/08/2008]

• U.S. Department of Labor proposal will clarify FMLA rules for workers, employers and military families [02/08/2008]

• Alexander J. Passantino named as acting administrator of the Wage and Hour Division [01/08/2008]

2007

• U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division announces record wage recovery for FY 2007 [12/28/2007]

• CVS Pharmacy Inc. agrees to pay more than $226,000 in penalties and more than $38,000 in back wages following investigation by U.S. Labor Department [12/10/2007]

• U.S. Department of Labor offers free prevailing wage conference [12/04/2007]

• Minimum wage will increase to $5.85 on July 24 [07/23/2007]

• Report on FMLA Request for Information issued by U.S. Department of Labor [06/27/2007]

• Overtime calculator joins collection of elaws advisors offered by U.S. Department of Labor [05/08/2007]

• U.S. Labor Department proposal will update child labor rules for the 21st century [04/17/2007]

• Wal-Mart Workers to Receive More Than $33 Million in Back Wages [01/25/07]

2006

• U.S. Labor Department Sues Rife Industrial Marine to Recover Nearly Two Million Dollars in Overtime Back Wages [12/19/06]

• Alexander Passantino Named as Deputy Administrator of the U.S. Labor Department’s Wage and Hour Division [10/31/2006]

• Michigan Security Guard Contractors Agree to Pay Back Wages to 716 Workers After U.S. Department of Labor Investigation [10/16/2006]

• U.S. Labor Department Sues Houston Drywall Firm to Recover over $500,000 in Back Wages for Employees Working on Mississippi Gulf Coast [08/30/2006]

• U.S. Department of Labor Sues Gardena Home Cleaning Business for Backwages Exceeding $1.8 Million for 386 Workers [08/16/2006]

• U.S. Labor Department’s Wage and Hour District Office Returns to New Orleans [08/16/2006]

• BMW Agrees to Pay $629,000 in Back Wages for 1,224 Workers at South Carolina Assembly Plant [08/16/2006]

• U.S. Labor Department Recovers $181,689 in Back Pay for 164 Workers Involved in Hurricane Debris Clean-up [07/17/2006]

• U.S. Department of Labor Launches New Online Back Wage Employee Locator - [06/01/2006]

• ESA News Release: Labor Department Urges Subcommittee to Adopt Government Accountability Office Recommendations on H-1B Labor Provisions [06/22/2006]

• Department of Labor Announces Fifth Edition of Service Contract Act Directory of Occupations [04/20/2006]

• U.S. Department of Labor Announces Minimum Wage Increase For Some American Samoa Industries - [04/20/2006]

• ESA News Release: Labor Department's Wage Hour Division to Participate in Department of Justice Hurricane Katrina Fraud Task Force [04/03/2006]

• Fine Upheld in Tragic Maine Forestry Workers Accident - [03/08/2006]

• ESA News Release: Department of Labor and U.S. Postal Service Reach $6.5 Million Back Wage Agreement [02/27/2006]

2005

• U.S. Department of Labor Announces Minimum Wage Increase For Some American Samoa Industries - [10/03/2005]

• Department of Labor Announces New Rule Allowing Contracting Agencies to Obtain Wage Determinations Online - 05-1592-NAT - [08/26/2005]

• U.S. Department of Labor Launches Nationwide Campaign Focusing on Youth Working in Construction - 05-1382-NAT - [07/18/2005]

• ESA News Release: Department of Labor Finds Tennessee Doctor Guilty Of Violating Temporary Foreign Worker Visa Program - 05-1072-NAT - [06/22/2005]

• OPA News Release: U.S. Department of Labor Recovers More Than $830,000 in Overtime Back Wages for 100 Employees in Hicksville, N.Y - 05-0381-NAT - [03/15/2005]

• Labor Department Posts New On-Line elaws Advisor on Changes to Youth Employment Rules - 05-0210-NAT - [02/15/2005]

• OPA News Release: Cingular Agrees to Pay $5.1 Million in Back Wages And Implements Policies to Promote Labor Law Compliance - 05-0083-NAT - [01/13/2005]

2004

• Labor Department Announces Fourth Straight Year of Outstanding Results Protecting Workers’ Rights, Wages [11/24/2004]

• Wachovia Corporation Agrees to Pay $5.5 Million to Women for Compensation Discrimination [09/23/2004]

• New Overtime Security Rule Strengthens and Protects Workers’ Rights and Wages - Public Service Announcement [09/21/2004]

• Statement from the U.S. Department of Labor on the Overtime Security Rules Still In Effect [09/10/2004]

• Statement from the U.S. Department of Labor on the Obey Amendment to the FY 2005 Labor-HHS Appropriations Bill [09/09/2004]

• U.S. Department of Labor Continues Compliance Outreach Launches Additional New Tool for the Overtime Security Rule [09/03/2004]
  

• Janitorial Firm Pays $1.9 Million in Back Wages for Overtime: U.S. Department of Labor Reaches Agreement with Contractor for Target Stores [08/25/2004]

• Restoring Overtime Security for Millions of Working Americans: The Department of Labor’s New Overtime Security Rules in Effect Today [08/23/2004]; En Español

• U.S. Labor Secretary Elaine L. Chao Addresses Fraternal Order of Police in Warren, Mich.: Labor Secretary Highlights Benefits of New Overtime Security Rule for First Responders [08/19/2004]

• U.S. Labor Secretary Elaine L. Chao Addresses Fraternal Order of Police in Willoughby, Ohio: Labor Secretary Highlights Benefits of New Overtime Security Rule for First Responders [08/18/2004]

• U.S. Labor Secretary Elaine L. Chao Addresses Fraternal Order of Police State Convention in Pittsburgh: Labor Secretary Underscores the Benefits of the New Overtime Security Rule for First Responders [08/10/2004]

• Labor Department Partners With American Mushroom Institute To Help Mushroom Growers Comply With Federal Law [07/15/2004]

• U.S. Department of Labor Administrative Review Board Reinstates Fine of $132,575 in a Massachusetts Case Involving Death of a 16-Year-Old [07/12/2004]

• DOL Officials Travel to Provide Compliance Assistance on the New Overtime Rules: This Week: Michigan, Texas, North Carolina, and Pennsylvania [06/14/2004]

• Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao Announces Al Robinson as Acting Administrator of the Wage and Hour Division [06/02/2004]

• DOL Official Joins with FOP and SBA in Correcting Misinformation Campaign Regarding Police and Overtime Protection [05/04/2004]

• Wage & Hour Division Administrator Testifies: Harkin Amendment Will Put OT Protections at Risk for Millions [05/04/2004]

• U.S. Labor Secretary Testifies in Support of New Overtime Security Rules [04/28/2004]

• U.S. Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao Announces New Enforcement Task Force [04/27/2004]

• U.S. Department of Labor Launches Nationwide YouthRules! Outreach Campaign [04/26/2004]

• Labor Department New White Collar Overtime Rules Published Today: New Rule available at the Federal Register [04/23/2004]

• “Workers Win” with Labor Department’s New Overtime Rules: FairPay Initiative Guarantees Overtime Rights for Millions of Workers [04/20/2004]

• OPA Press Release: Labor Secretary Elaine L. Chao Testifies in Support of Proposal to Update Overtime Protections for White-Collar Workers [01/20/2004]

2003

• U.S. Labor Department Works with Southside Chicago Employer To Pay 133 Workers over $1.3 Million in Unpaid Wages [12/18/2003]

• U.S. Department of Labor Settles Lawsuits; New York City Garment Workers to Receive $410,000 in Back Wages [12/17/2003]

• T-Mobile USA, Inc. Agrees to Pay $4.7 Million in Back Wages [11/26/2003]

• New Data Show Record-Breaking Results from Strong Enforcement, Compliance Assistance [11/18/2003]

• E-Gov Joint Venture Launches WDOL.gov
  Website Provides Easy Access to Wage Determinations [11/12/2003]

• Local Security Company And Owner Barred From Federal Contracts For Three Years [11/03/2003]

• OPA Press Release: Statement of Labor Secretary Elaine L. Chao on Non-Binding Motion to Instruct Labor-HHS Appropriations Conferees [10/02/2003]

• OPA Press Release: Statement of Labor Secretary Elaine L. Chao on U.S. Senate Vote to Block Proposal Updating White-Collar Overtime Rules [09/10/2003]

• OPA Press Release: Statement of Labor Secretary Elaine L. Chao on Victory for Effort to Guarantee Overtime for Low-Wage Workers in the U.S. House Today [07/10/2003]

• Labor Department Enforcing Laws to Protect the Nation’s Most Vulnerable Workers - Wage Hour Administrator Participates in LULAC Child Labor Panel on Child Labor [06/19/2003]

• ESA Press Release: YouthRules! Marks One-Year Anniversary, Continues to Expand: Expansion Includes New Strategic Partnerships, Resource Materials, and Revamped Website [06/02/2003]

• ESA Press Release: U.S. Department of Labor Proposal Will Secure Overtime for 1.3 Million More Low-Wage Workers: Department Seeks to Modernize 50-Year-Old Wage Regulations [03/27/2003]

• ESA Press Release: Labor Department Signs on New YouthRules Parter: National Council for Agricultural Employers Joins Effort to Ensure Safe and Rewarding Work Experiences for Young Workers [02/05/2003]
   
• ESA Press Release: Labor Department Marks 10 Years of Family and Medical Leave Act, Anniversary Serves as Reminder to Know your Rights [02/05/2003]
   
• OPA Press Release: Statement of U.S. Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao on Introduction of “The Family Time and Workplace Flexibility Act” [02/05/2003]
   

2002

• ESA Press Release: Labor Department Enforcement Reaches 10-Year High—Wage and Hour Division Recovers $175 Million for Workers [12/18/2002]
   
• U.S. Department of Labor Files Suit Against Third Poultry Processor in Six Months [11/20/2002]
   
• RehabCare Group To Pay Employees $2.85 Million [11/19/2002]
   
• Colorado-Based Einstein Brothers Bagels Agrees to Pay $495,930 in Back Overtime Wages to Employees in 27 States [09/25/2002]
   
• Electronic Form Now Available for Submission of Davis-Bacon Wage Survey Data [09/18/2002]
   
• Labor Department Enforces Worker Rights: Progress in Two Enforcement Cases This Week [08/09/2002]
   
• USERRA Protects Family and Medical Leave Rights of Reservists and National Guard: Labor Department Reminds Employers Military Service Time Counts Toward Eligibility [07/26/2002]
   
• Labor Department Files Charges of Retaliation Against Danmar Finishing Corp. [06/17/2002]
   
• Labor Secretary Elaine L. Chao Announces New YouthRules! Program - Initiative To Promote Safe And Rewarding Work Experiences For Teen [05/22/2002]
   
• Perdue Farms Agrees To Change Pay Practices And Pay Millions In Back Wages To 25,000 Poultry Workers [05/09/2002]
   
• Labor Department Files Suit Against Tyson Foods [05/09/2002]
   
• U.S. Department of Labor Sues Brooklyn Garment Shop for Wage Violations [05/01/2002]
   
• Labor Secretary Elaine L. Chao Announces Increased Compliance in Garment Industry Compliance Assistance Seen As Effective Tool To Improve Working Conditions [03/28/2002]
   
• Poultry Producer Agrees to Pay Back Wages to Settle a Federal Law Suit [03/21/2002]
   

2001

• McCutchen Receives Senate Confirmation: Native To Lead Wage and Hour Division [12/10/2001]
   
• McCutchen Nominated to be Wage and Hour Administrator - Attorney Brings Experience in Labor and Employment Issues [09/21/2001]
   
• State and Federal Officials Working to Keep Young Workers Safe [05/04/2001]
   
• Compliance Level with Federal Labor Laws in the Nursing Home Industry Falls to New Low [01/29/2001]
   
• New Survey Results: Millions of Americans Benefit from, Support FMLA [01/09/2001]

2000

• U. S. Department of Labor Issues Final Rules on Employment of H-1B Nonimmigrant Workers [12/19/2000]
   
• California Pool Contractor To Pay $608,000 To Workers [08/22/2000]
   
• Work Experiences Differ Between Girls, Boys Labor Department Report: Half Of American Youngsters Have Work History [07/07/2000]
   
• Keeping Young Workers Safe: That's Everyone's Job This Summer [06/27/2000]
   
• Equal Pay Day Time To Separate Fact From Fiction On The Pay Gap [05/11/2000]
   
• State, Federal Officials to Help Keep Young Workers Safe [05/03/2000]
   
• Labor Department Releases Fourth Quarter 1999 Garment Enforcement Report [05/01/2000]
   
• Statement By Labor Secretary Alexis M. Herman On Stock Options Proposal [03/29/2000]
   
• Statement Of Alexis M. Herman On Stock Options And The FLSA [03/02/2000]
   
• Labor Department Releases Third Quarter '99 Garment Enforcement Report [02/24/2000]

1999

• U.S. Bank Will Pay $3.8 Million to Resolve Overtime Pay Issue Involving 2,815 Employees [12/09/99]
   
• Statement by Secretary of Labor Alexis M. Herman Regarding the Senate's Consent to Ratify the ILO Convention on the Elimination of the Worst Forms of Child Labor [11/05/99]
   
• Labor Department Releases Second Quarter '99 Garment Enforcement Report [11/04/99]
   
• Conditions in New York City's Garment Industry Unchanged, but Tougher Enforcement Leads to Arrests [10/15/99]
   
• Conditions in New York City's Garment Industry Unchanged, but Tougher Enforcement Leads to Arrests [10/15/99]
   
• Tyson Foods, Inc. Fined $59,274 Following the Death and Injury of Illegally Employed Young Workers [10/13/99]
   
• Nabisco Agrees to Pay $5 Million to 3,130 Employees to Settle Overtime Case with Labor Department [10/04/99]
   
• Statement by Secretary of Labor Alexis M. Herman on the FMLA Anniversary [08/05/99]
   
• 100 Colleges and Universities Take a Stand Against Sweatshops [06/22/99]
   
• U.S. Department of Labor Seeks Back Pay for Poultry Workers [06/16/99]
   
• Labor Department Releases First Quarter 99 Garment Enforcement Report [06/08/99]
   
• Most Bay Area Garment Shops Pay Required Wages; Monitored and Established Businesses Do Best [05/18/99]
   
• Sears Signs Child Labor Partnership Agreement with US Department of Labor [05/14/99]
   
• Frito-lay Inc. Agrees to Pay $225,000 in Back Wages to 233 Minority Applicants for Discrimination Found at Louisiana Plant [04/21/99]
   
• "Salad Bowl" Growers Get the Message about Child Labor [03/25/99]
   
• Labor Department Releases Fourth Quarter '98 Garment Enforcement Report [03/04/99]
   
• Crackdown on Labor Law Violations in Saipan Results in $2.1 Million in Back Wages [01/20/99]

1998

• Candy Distributor Assessed $9,250 for Child Labor Violations in Washington and Oregon [11/30/98]
   
• Utah Grocery Chain Has Agreed to Pay $650,000 Fine for Child Labor Violations [11/09/98]
   
• Ohio Fast Food Company Fined $333,450 for Child Labor Violations; One Minor Injured [11/04/98]
   
• Statement of U.S. Labor Secretary Alexis M. Herman On the Apparel Industry Partnership [11/03/98]
   
• Blueberry Grower Fined Following the Death of Nine-year-old Worker [10/23/98]
   
• Battle Against Sweatshops to Get "The Old College Try" "No Sweat University" to Be Held in Washington on October 6 [09/28/98]
   
• Colorado Meatpacker Fined Nearly $1.3 Million for Repeated Violations of Federal Overtime Law [09/18/98]
   
• Labor Department Launches Education Campaign on Worker Rights and Child Safety on Farms and in Fields [08/12/98]
   
• U.S. Labor Department Releases Quarterly Garment Enforcement Report [07/31/98]
   
• U.S. Labor Department Finds 4-year-old among 12 Underage Children Working in Arizona Onion Fields [07/24/98]
   
• U.S. Department of Labor Sues Excel Corporation Seeking Compliance with Federal Overtime Law [07/16/98]
   
• Labor Department Highlights Job Safety for Teens in Summer Jobs [06/09/98]
   
• U.S. Labor Department Cites Kmart Corporation for Federal Child Labor Violations [06/05/98]
   
• U.S. Department of Labor Announces Latest Los Angeles Garment Survey Results [05/27/98]
   
• Louisiana Farm Pays Penalty for Child Labor [05/20/98]
   
• U.S. Department of Labor Initiative to Increase Compliance with Minimum Wage and Overtime Laws in Nursing Homes [04/30/98]
   
• U.S. Department of Labor Again Sues Iowa Beef Processors, Inc. For Labor Law Violations [04/24/98]
   
• U.S. Department of Labor Finds 36 Young Children Illegally Employed in Texas Agriculture; Four Growers Agree to Compliance Monitoring [04/17/98]
   
• U.S. Department of Labor Crack Down on Labor Law Violations in Saipan Results in More Court Actions [03/27/98]
   
• Statement of U.S. Labor Secretary Alexis M. Herman Regarding Duke University's Code of Conduct for Apparel Licensees [03/09/98]
   
• Youth Opportunities of America, Inc., Cincinnati, Ohio, Ordered to Pay $8,825 Fine For Child Labor Violations [02/26/98]
   
• Caldor Stores Cited By U.S. Department of Labor For Child Labor Hazards; Firm Adopts Compliance Plan [02/12/98]
   
• Court Blocks "Hot Goods" Shipments by Manufacturer Contract Prices Must be Sufficient to Meet Minimum Wage [02/10/98]
   
• Statement By Secretary of Labor Alexis M. Herman on The Fifth Anniversary of The Family and Medical Leave Act [02/05/98]
   
• Two Cincinnati Employers Each Fined Over $31,400 for Illegally Employing Children [02/04/98]
   
• Omaha Hy-Vee Stores Fined $172,800 for Child Labor Violations [02/04/98]

1997

• Wyoming Company Fined the Maximum Penalty for Child Labor Violations [12/15/97]
   
• Chestertown Foods, Inc., Fined $14,000 for Child Labor Violations [12/12/97]
   
• Record Back-Pay Violations in New York Sweatshops Linked to Four National Retailers; Retailers Agree to Take Additional Steps to Ensure Compliance with Private Labels [12/12/97]
   
• Statement by Secretary of Labor Alexis M. Herman on the El Monte Settlement[10/24/97]
   
• Secretary of Labor Unveils New No-Sweat Garment Initiative for Teens [10/16/97]
   
• U.S. Department of Labor Compliance Survey Finds More Than Half of New York City Garment Shops in Violation of Labor Laws [10/16/97]
   
• U.S. Labor Department Announces Compliance Survey in Poultry Processing Industry [10/03/97]
   
• Statement by Secretary of Labor Alexis M. Herman on the Day of Conscious [10/03/97]
   
• Federal Minimum Wage Goes to $5.15 An Hour on Labor Day [08/29/97]
   
• Dallas Manufacturers Form Alliance and Sign Labor Department Compliance Agreement [07/25/97]
   
• Statement by Secretary of Labor Alexis M. Herman on Allegations of Labor Law Violations Involving Deaf Mexican Immigrants in New York City [07/21/97]
   
• Statement by the Secretary of Labor on EPI's Study Examining the Impact of the Minimum Wage Increase [07/11/97]
   
• Labor Secretary Urges Teens To "Work Safe This Summer" Teen Safety Toll-Free Number, Teen Workers' Bill of Rights New to Initiative [06/13/97]
   
• Statement by Secretary of Labor Alexis Herman on Comp Time [05/15/97]
   
• U.S. Labor Department Continues Aggressive Nationwide Enforcement in the Garment Industry [05/14/97]
   
• Statement of Acting Secretary of Labor Cynthia A. Metzler Regarding The Apparel Industry Partnership's Anti-Sweatshop Recommendations To The President [04/14/97]
   
• Three Apparel Companies Added To Labor Department's Trendsetters List Tally up to 34 Companies Representing Hundreds of Apparel Lines and Thousands of Retail Stores [03/25/97]
   
• Response By Bernard Anderson, Assistant Secretary Employment Standards Administration, To Davis-Bacon Audit [03/11/97]
   
• Labor Department Releases Garment Enforcement Report "No Sweat" Initiative Continues as New Measurers to Step Up Effectiveness of Manufacturing Monitoring are Announced [03/04/97]
   
• Labor Secretary, Teen Celebrity To Promote Teen Safety In "Work Safe This Summer" Campaign [02/28/97]
   
• "Work Safe This Summer" Web Site Contest Announced Labor Secretary To Award Winner In Teen Safety Art Campaign [02/27/97]
   
• Labor Department Announces Education & Outreach Initiative in Nursing Home Industry [02/26/97]
   
• Labor Department Continues "No Sweat" Initiative New York And Los Angeles Strike Force Results Released [02/18/97]
   
• Labor Department Announces Alternative Dispute Resolution Proposal [02/11/97]
   
• Labor Department Celebrates FMLA Anniversary With Release Of Print and Radio Public Service Announcements [02/05/97]
   
• Labor Department Extends Guess? Inc. Probationary Status on Trendsetter List [01/31/97]
   
• Reinvention Improves Protections for Whistleblowers and Farm Workers OSHA, ESA, Division to Swap Certain Duties Feb. 3 [01/30/97]
   
• Need Help Balancing Work and Family? Help is Just a Phone Call Away [01/17/97]
   

National Office News Releases from Past Years

• 1995 & 1996

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