Proposed Collection; Comment Request
[02/14/2006]
Volume 71, Number 30, Page 7800-7801
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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: Economic Survey Schedule
(WH-1). 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 April 17, 2006.
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 bell.hazel@dol.gov. Please
use only one method of transmission for comments (mail, fax, or e-
mail).
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), 29 U.S.C. 201 et seq., Sec. Sec.
5, 6(a)(3) and 8 provide that covered, non-exempt employees in America
Samoa may be paid at minimum wage rates established by a Special
Industry Committee, in lieu of the general federal minimum wage
specified in Sec. 6(a)(1) of the Act. The FLSA requires the Committee
to recommend to the Secretary of Labor the highest minimum wage rate--
not to exceed the rate required under FLSA Sec. 6(a)(1)--that it
determines, having due regard to economic and competitive conditions,
will not substantially curtail employment in the industry and will not
give any industry in America Samoa a competitive advantage over any
industry in the U.S. outside of America Samoa. The Committee must
consider competitive conditions as affected by transportation, living
and production costs; the wages established by collective bargaining
agreements in various industries; and wages paid by employers who
voluntarily maintain minimum wage standards. FLSA Sec. 5(d) requires
the Secretary of Labor to provide data on the matters the Committee
will consider. Regulations 29 CFR 511.6 and 511.11 require the
Administrator of the Wage and Hour Division (WHD) of DOL prepare for
the Committee an economic report containing data pertinent to
establishing industry minimum wage rates in America Samoa. WHD uses
Form WH-1, Economic Survey Schedule, to gather the information
necessary to prepare the economic report. This information collection
is currently approved for use through August 31, 2006.
II. Review Focus
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 clarity 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.
III. Current Actions
The Department of Labor seeks approval for the extension of this
information collection in order to gather information necessary to
prepare the required economic report used by the Committee to set
industry wage rates in America Samoa.
Type of Review: Extension.
Agency: Employment Standards Administration.
Title: Economic Survey Schedule.
OMB Number: 1215-0028.
Agency Number: WH-1.
Affected Public: Business or other for-profit; State, Local or
Tribal Government.
Total Respondents: 67.
Total Responses: 67.
Time per Response: 45 minutes.
Frequency: Biennially.
Estimated Total Burden Hours: 50.
Total Burden Cost (capital/startup): $0.
Total Burden Cost (operating/maintenance): $0.
Comments submitted in response to this notice will be summarized
and/or
[[Page 7801]]
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: February 8, 2006.
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. E6-2067 Filed 2-13-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-27-P
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