According to the American Immigration Council, the construction industry has the highest percentage of undocumented workers at 13.7 percent, surpassing agriculture (12.7 percent), hospitality (7.1 percent), general services (6.5 percent), and transportation and warehousing (5.5 percent).
The White House Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs announced that it is reviewing the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s final rule on “Personal Protective Equipment in Construction.” SWACCA submitted joint comments with the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades supporting the proposed rule on Sept. 15, 2023.
On Monday, Sept. 30, Maryland became the first state in the eastern U.S. to implement a heat standard for workers. The standard applies to both indoor and outdoor work and kicks in when the “heat index” (a combination of air temperature and humidity) equals or exceeds 80 degrees Fahrenheit.
The Internal Revenue Service announced that it is opening a supplemental claim process to help third-party payers and their clients resolve incorrect claims for the Employee Retention Credit. Currently, third-party payers report and pay clients’ federal employment taxes under the third-party payer’s Employer Identification Number.
The Department of Labor announced the award of $6 million in funding to help recruit, train and retain more women in quality pre-apprenticeship and Registered Apprenticeship programs, as well as nontraditional occupations.
Democrats on the Joint Economic Committee released a new report, which found that expanding registered apprenticeship programs will expand the pipeline of workers into higher-paying jobs while also meeting the needs of employers.
The Department of Labor posted the pre-publication version and an associated fact sheet for its final rule entitled, “Requirements Related to the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act.”
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration launched an online tool intended to allow users to search the agency’s severe injury report database and view trends related to workplace injuries occurring in states covered by OSHA.
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration formally released its proposed rule on “Heat Injury and Illness Prevention in Outdoor and Indoor Work Settings” that was published on the Department of Labor’s website on July 2.
