Proposed Collection; Comment Request
[12/06/2006]
Volume 71, Number 234, Page 70794
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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: Employment
Information Forms (WH-3 and WH-3 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 February 5, 2007.
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:
I. Background
Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) section 11(a), 29 U.S.C. 211(a),
provides that the Secretary of Labor may investigate and gather data
regarding the wages, hours, and other conditions and practices of
employment in any industry subject to the FLSA, and may enter and
inspect such places and such records (and make such transcriptions
thereof), question such employees, and investigate such facts,
conditions, practices, or matters deemed necessary or appropriate to
determine whether any person has violated any provision of the FLSA.
Other Federal laws the Wage and Hour Division (WHD) of the DOL
administers provide similar authority. Form WH-3 is an optional form
complainants (e.g. current and former employees, unions, and competitor
employers) may use to provide information to the WHD about alleged
violations of the labor standards provisions the WHD administers.
Complainants themselves or WHD staff, using information provided by the
complainants, complete the form. WHD staff use the completed forms to
obtain information about employer compliance with the provisions of the
various labor standards laws enforced by the agency and to determine if
the WHD has jurisdiction to investigate the alleged violation(s). Form
WH-3 is available in both English and Spanish. When the WHD schedules a
complaint-based investigation, the agency makes the completed Form WH-3
part of the investigation case file. This information collection is
currently approved for use through June 30, 2007.
II. Review Focus
The DOL 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 DOL seeks approval for the extension of this information
collection in order to carry out its responsibility to meet the
statutory requirements to investigate alleged violations of the various
labor standards laws enforced by the WHD.
Type of Review: Extension.
Agency: Employment Standards Administration.
Title: Employment Information Form.
OMB Number: 1215-0001.
Agency Number: WH-3 and WH-3 Spanish.
Affected Public: Individuals or households.
Total Respondents: 35,000.
Total Responses: 35,000.
Time per Response: 20 minutes.
Frequency: On Occasion.
Estimated Total Burden Hours: 11,667.
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: November 30, 2006.
Ruben Wiley,
Chief, Branch of Management Review and Internal Control, Division of
Financial Management, Office of Management, Administration and
Planning, Employment Standards Administration.
[FR Doc. E6-20589 Filed 12-5-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-27-P
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