Lots of News out of DC this Week for Government Contractors

---

There has been a lot of news out of DC this week that relates to government contractors. First, on June 12, Labor Secretary Thomas E. Perez announced a proposed rule raising the minimum wage for workers on federal service and construction contracts to $10.10 per hour. The proposed rule implements Executive Order 13658, which was announced by the President on February 12, 2014.

The proposed rule provides guidance and sets standards for employers concerning coverage, including coverage of tipped employees and workers with disabilities. It also establishes an enforcement process familiar to most government contractors that will protect the right of workers to receive the new minimum wage. The proposed rule includes an economic analysis showing that nearly two hundred thousand workers will benefit from the increase.

More information about the proposed rule and how to submit comments is available at the U.S. Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division’s Website.

On June 18, OFCCP posted additional Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) responding to questions received from government contractors. The FAQs address requirements of the revised regulations implementing the Vietnam Era Veterans’ Readjustment Assistance Act (VEVRAA) and Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act (Section 503). These new FAQs have been added to the many FAQs already published on the OFCCP Web site. The VEVRAA FAQs are available at http://www.dol.gov/ofccp/regs/compliance/vevraa.htm

The Section 503 FAQs are available at http://www.dol.gov/ofccp/regs/compliance/section503.htm