Proposed Collection; Comment Request [03/07/2003]
Volume 68, Number 45, Page 11154-11155
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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 collection: Wage Statement (WH-501
(English) and WH-501S (Spanish)). A copy of the proposed information
collection request 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 May 6, 2003.
ADDRESSES: Ms. Hazel M. Bell, U.S. Department of Labor, 200
Constitution Ave., NW., Room S-3201, Washington, DC 20210, telephone
(202) 693-0418, fax (202) 693-1451, E-mail hbell@fenix2.dol-esa.gov.
Please use only one method of transmission for comments (mail, fax, or
E-mail).
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Background
The Migrant and Seasonal Agricultural Worker Protection Act (MSPA)
and it regulations 29 CFR part 500 requires that each Farm labor
contractor, agricultural employer, and agricultural association that
employs any migrant or seasonal worker, make, keep, and preserve
itemized records for three years for each worker. These records include
the basis on which earnings are paid, the number of piece work units
earned, if applicable, the number of hours worked, the total pay period
earnings, the specific sums withheld and the purpose of each sum
withheld, and the net pay. It is also required that an itemized written
statement of this information be provided to each worker each pay
period. The WH-501 (English) and WH-501S (Spanish) are optional forms
which an employer may use for this purpose. This information collection
is currently approved for use through August 31, 2003.
II. Review Focus
The Department of Labor is particularly interested in comments
which:
[sbull] 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;
[sbull] 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;
[[Page 11155]]
[sbull] Enhance the quality, utility and clarity of the information
to be collected; and
[sbull] 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 approval for the extension of this
information collection in order to carry out its responsibility to
determine compliance with applicable provisions of the Migrant and
Seasonal Agricultural Worker Protection Act (MSPA). While use of the
forms is optional, disclosure and maintenance of the information is
required by MSPA.
Type of Review: Extension.
Agency: Employment Standards Administration.
Title: Wage Statement.
OMB Number: 1215-0148.
Agency Number: WH-501 (English) and WH-501S (Spanish).
Affected Public: Farms; Business or other for-profit; Individuals
or households.
Total Respondents: 1.4 million.
Total Responses: 34 million.
Time per Response: 1 minute.
Frequency: Recordkeeping; Third party disclosure, Reporting on
occasion.
Estimated Total Burden Hours: 566,667.
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: March 3, 2003.
Sue Blumenthal,
Acting Chief, Branch of Management Review and Internal Control,
Division of Financial Management, Office of Management, Administration
and Planning, Employment Standards Administration.
[FR Doc. 03-5410 Filed 3-6-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-27-P
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