US Department of Labor extends comment period on proposed rule to increase employment of protected veterans among federal contractors

News Release

OFCCP News Release: [06/22/2011]
Contact Name: Jason Surbey or Dolline Hatchett
Phone Number: (202) 693-4668 or x4651
Release Number: 11-0947-NAT
US Department of Labor extends comment period on proposed rule to increase employment of protected veterans among federal contractors
Interested parties may submit comments through July 11

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs has announced a 14-day extension of the comment period for its proposed rule to revise regulations implementing Section 4212 of the Vietnam Era Veterans' Readjustment Assistance Act of 1974. Notice of the extension has been published in the June 22 Federal Register and can be viewed at http://s.dol.gov/GE.
On April 26, OFCCP published a notice of proposed rulemaking in 76 Federal Register 23358 with a comment period scheduled to end on Monday, June 27. After receiving requests for an extension, OFCCP has extended the comment period by 14 days until Monday, July 11. This action will provide additional time for interested individuals to analyze the issues and provide their comments. To view the proposed rule and submit comments, visit the federal e-rulemaking portal at http://www.regulations.gov and search by regulation identification number 1250-AA00.
The rule proposed by OFCCP would strengthen affirmative action provisions for protected veterans, detailing specific actions a contractor must take to satisfy its obligations under the law. The new rule would increase data collection obligations and require contractors to establish hiring benchmarks to measure the effectiveness of their affirmative action efforts; require contractors to engage in at least three specified types of outreach and recruitment efforts each year; and require that all job applicants be invited to self-identify as "protected veterans" before they are offered a job.
In addition to VEVRAA, OFCCP's legal authority exists under Executive Order 11246 and Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. As amended, these three laws hold those who do business with the federal government, both contractors and subcontractors, to the fair and reasonable standard that they not discriminate in employment on the basis of gender, race, color, religion, national origin, disability or status as a protected veteran. For general information, call OFCCP's toll-free helpline at 800-397-6251. Additional information is available at http://www.dol.gov/ofccp/.

http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/ofccp/OFCCP20110947.htm