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The Department of Labor’s proposal to implement Executive Order 13658 establishing a minimum wage for federal contractors raised concerns which were outlined in comments ABC submitted July 28. Under the proposal, beginning Jan. 1, 2015, the hourly minimum wage paid by contractors to workers performing on covered federal contracts would be $10.10 per hour. In the comments, ABC states the proposal should be withdrawn or substantially modified.

On June 17, the U.S. Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division issued a proposed rule to implement Executive Order 13658, which would establish a minimum wage for federal contractors. Beginning Jan. 1, 2015, the executive order will require the hourly minimum wage paid by contractors to workers performing on covered federal contracts to be $10.10 per hour. Beginning Jan. 1, 2016, the executive order allows the minimum wage to be determined annually by the Secretary of Labor. Comments on the proposal are due July 17, 2014.

A health care alert from Washington Council Ernst & Young regarding health care law provisions that impact employers is available for ABC members on ABC’s Employer Health Care Law Toolkit.

To coincide with Equal Pay Day, President Obama April 8 issued two executive actions dealing with equal pay for women, specifically prohibiting federal contractors from retaliating against employees who discuss their compensation with fellow employees and requiring federal contractors and subcontractors to submit compensation data to the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL). 

In a letter to Labor Secretary Thomas Perez, ABC Feb. 19 strongly criticized the U.S. Department of Labor’s (DOL) “persuader” reporting rule that would change the long-standing interpretation of “advice” under federal labor law. ABC, along with 53 other employer organizations, reiterated its strong opposition to proposal, while highlighting additional concerns.

During the last presidential campaign, then-candidate Barack Obama proudly told audiences, “We need to strengthen our unions by letting them do what they do best—organize our workers … That's why I am fighting to pass the Employee Free Choice Act (EFCA)…We'll make it the law of the land when I'm president.” When Democrats took the White House and held onto Congress in November 2008, Obama’s promise seemed all but certain. However, EFCA, also known as “card check,” met with quick and persistent resistance from both sides of the aisle. The passage of EFCA, which at one time seemed inevitable, stalled

The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) Wage and Hour Division (WHD) announced a series of Prevailing Wage Seminars for 2014 that will allow attendees to learn more about the Davis-Bacon Act, the process of obtaining wage determinations and adding classification, how to comply, the process of appealing wage rates and more. 

President Obama Jan.17 signed into law a $1.01 trillion omnibus appropriations bill (H.R. 3547) that funds all federal agencies for fiscal year 2014. The Senate Jan. 16 passed the appropriations bill by a 72-26 vote and the House Jan. 15, passed the bill by a 359-67 vote. The legislation includes funding decreases for many federal agencies, including the U.S. Department of Labor and the National Labor Relations Board.

The Department of Labor’s (DOL) regulatory agenda, released Nov. 27, included updated timeframes for proposed rulemakings related to independent contractors and apprenticeship. 

Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC), along with several other trade associations, Dec. 18 sent a letter expressing serious concern over the White House’s nominee to lead DOL’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD), David Weil. Weil’s advocacy positions and lack of relevant job experience were cited as evidence that he would be unable to impartially enforce critical federal wage and hour laws governing the workplace.