Proposed Collection; Comment Request, 70794 [E6-20589]

Agencies

• Employment Standards Administration
• DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 234 (Wednesday, December 6, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Page 70794]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-20589]


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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