Department of Labor May 22, 2012 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Office of Trade and Labor Affairs (OTLA) gives notice that on May 14, 2012, Submission 2012-01 regarding Honduras was accepted for review pursuant to Article 16.4.3 of the Dominican Republic-Central America-United States Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA-DR). On March 26, 2012, the AFL-CIO and 27 Honduran civil society and worker organizations provided a formal submission to OTLA alleging violations of the Labor Chapter (Chapter 16) of the CAFTA-DR stemming from the Government of Honduras' (GOH's) actions or failure to act. The submission alleges that the GOH's actions or lack thereof denied workers at factories in the apparel and auto parts manufacturing sectors, plantations in the agricultural sector, and enterprises at the Port of Cortez their rights under Honduran labor law relating to freedom of association, the right to organize, the right to bargain collectively, child labor, and acceptable conditions of work. The submitters also allege the GOH is in violation of the CAFTA-DR due to recently passed legislation which weakens workers rights and on-going deficiencies in its laws and legal system. The objective of the review of the submission will be to gather information so that OTLA can better understand the allegations therein and publicly report on the U.S. Government's views regarding whether the GOH's actions were consistent with its obligations under the Labor Chapter of the CAFTA-DR.

The Department of Labor, as part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, conducts a pre-clearance consultation program to provide the general public and Federal agencies with an opportunity to comment on proposed and continuing collections of information in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA). 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 Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs is soliciting comments on its proposal to implement standard procedures for supply and service contractors seeking approval to develop affirmative action programs based on functional or business units. A copy of this information collection request (ICR), with applicable supporting documentation; including among other things a description of the likely respondents, proposed frequency of response, and estimated total burden may be obtained from the RegInfo.gov Web site at https://www.reginfo.gov/ public/do/PRAMain or by contacting the office listed below in the addresses section of this Notice.