On Sept. 2, ABC submitted comments in support of the U.S. Department of Labor’s proposed rule to end discrimination and streamline rules for registered apprenticeships, Prohibiting Illegal Discrimination in Registered Apprenticeship Programs.

The proposed rule would reduce regulatory burdens on registered apprenticeship program sponsors related to equal employment opportunity regulations. It streamlines complex affirmative action, recordkeeping and utilization goals by replacing them with a requirement to comply with state and federal nondiscrimination laws.

These burdensome regulations were initially implemented under former President Barack Obama’s administration in 2016, and ABC opposed the changes when they were first proposed.

ABC’s Sept. 2 comments supported the proposed rule, which will ease entry to registered apprenticeship programs by new program sponsors, especially small businesses, while maintaining broad and effective protections for both potential and current apprentices.

ABC continues to support further improvements to RAPs, which are part of ABC’s all-of-the-above approach to workforce development that will be critical to addressing the construction industry’s ongoing labor shortage.