WB
Notices
Women's Bureau; Proposed Collection; Comment Request
[
3/28/1996]
[
PDF]
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 Women's Bureau is soliciting comments concerning the
proposed new collection of information on the fair pay issue for
implementation of the Fair Pay Information Clearinghouse. A copy of the
ICR can be obtained by contacting the office listed below in the
addressee section of this notice.
DATES: Written comments must be submitted to the office listed in the
addressee section below on or before May 28, 1996. The Department of
Labor is particularly interested in comments which:
* 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;
* 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;
* Enhance the quality, utility, and clarify of the information to
be collected; and
* 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.
ADDRESSES: Josephine Gomez on (202) 219-6631; fax number (202) 219-
5529; Internet address Jgomez@WB.gov or Arline Easley on (202) 219-
6601; fax number (202) 219-5529; Internet address Aeasley@WB.gov;
Women's Bureau, U.S. Department of Labor, Room S-3317, 200 Constitution
Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20210.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Background
This information is needed because the Administration has made
implementation of the Fair Pay Information Clearinghouse a priority for
the Women's Bureau for Fiscal Year 1996. The Clearinghouse is a direct
response to working women's views, solicited by the Working Women
Count! initiative begun in 1994, starting with a voluntary customer
satisfaction survey and a scientific random sample. In both the popular
survey and the scientific sample, working women clearly conveyed that
they do not receive the level of pay and benefits needed to support
themselves and their families. Respondents said that ``improving pay
scales * * *'' was one of their highest priorities for workplace
change. The Fair Pay Information Clearinghouse will assist employees
and employers who want to improve wage-setting practices. The
Clearinghouse will provide technical assistance to employees, employers
and organizations on successful efforts to identify and remove sex and
race discrimination in wage setting policies. In addition to providing
wage and occupational data, which will be obtained from resources such
as the Department's Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the Clearinghouse
will also offer profiles of employers that have implemented pay
adjustments based on pay equity studies, as well as offering
organizational resources to contact for a variety of information on
fair pay. Those who contact the Clearinghouse will learn about existing
approaches to paying workers for the valuable work they do, regardless
of whether or not that work has traditionally been performed by women
and by people of color. Since the majority of women still work in
traditionally female jobs, the Clearinghouse will provide these workers
and their employers helpful tools to secure equal access to fair pay.
II. Current Actions
Solicitors and/or Commissions on Women of 50 states, including
local jurisdictions and school districts will be asked to respond to
the items appearing on OMB approved form ``Organizations Working on
Fair Pay Issues''. Information on the methodology used to implement
fair pay adjustments will be gathered over the telephone utilizing OMB
approved dialogue. Approximately 20 state entities that have made fair
pay adjustments will be asked to provide descriptions of the
methodologies used in distributing fair pay adjustments; these data
should already be codified and the agencies simply need to send a copy
of the descriptions that have been used. Ten researchers working in the
field of fair pay will likely be requested to provide manuscripts and
publications on the subject. Respondents have the option of
transmitting their information electronically. Internet addresses and
facsimile numbers are being provided for every aspect of this
information collection.
Type of Review: New.
Agency: Women's Bureau.
Title: The Fair Pay Information Clearinghouse Information
Collection.
Affected Public: Likely respondents are solicitors and/or
Commissions on Women of 50 states, including local jurisdictions and
school districts; Approximately 20 state entities that have made fair
pay adjustments, and ten researchers working in the field of fair pay
will likely be requested to provide manuscripts and publications on the
subject.
Total Respondents: Approximately 180 respondents.
Frequency: Annual.
Total Responses: 180.
Average Time per Response: 9 hours.
Estimated Total Burden Hours: 1,600.
Total Burden Cost: (capital/startup): $19,160 (startup only).
Total Burden Cost: (operating/maintaining): $19,160 for each
subsequent year (maintenance only).
Comments submitted in response to this comment request will be
summarized and/or included in the request for Office of Management and
Budget approval of the information
[[Page 13881]]
collection request; they will also become a matter of public record.
Dated: March 22, 1996.
Ida L. Castro,
Acting Director.
[FR Doc. 96-7569 Filed 3-27-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-23-M