[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 61 (Thursday, March 28, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 13880-13881]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-7569]



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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR


Women's Bureau; Proposed Collection; Comment Request

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Labor, as part of its continuing effort to 
reduce paperwork and respondent burden conducts a preclearance 
consultation program to provide the general public and Federal agencies 
with an opportunity to comment on proposed and/or continuing 
collections of information in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction 
Act of 1995 (PRA95) [44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)]. This program helps to 
ensure that requested data can be provided in the desired format, 
reporting burden (time and financial resources) is minimized, 
collection instruments are clearly understood, and the impact of 
collection requirements on respondents can be properly assessed. 
Currently, the Women's Bureau is soliciting comments concerning the 
proposed new collection of information on the fair pay issue for 
implementation of the Fair Pay Information Clearinghouse. A copy of the 
ICR can be obtained by contacting the office listed below in the 
addressee section of this notice.

DATES: Written comments must be submitted to the office listed in the 
addressee section below on or before May 28, 1996. The Department of 
Labor is particularly interested in comments which:
    * Evaluate whether the proposed collection of information is 
necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, 
including whether the information will have practical utility;
    * Evaluate the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of 
the proposed collection of information, including the validity of the 
methodology and assumptions used;
    * Enhance the quality, utility, and clarify of the information to 
be collected; and
    * Minimize the burden of the collection of information on those who 
are to respond, including through the use of appropriate automated, 
electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or 
other forms of information technology, e.g., permitting electronic 
submissions of responses.

ADDRESSES: Josephine Gomez on (202) 219-6631; fax number (202) 219-
5529; Internet address [email protected] or Arline Easley on (202) 219-
6601; fax number (202) 219-5529; Internet address [email protected]; 
Women's Bureau, U.S. Department of Labor, Room S-3317, 200 Constitution 
Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20210.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Background

    This information is needed because the Administration has made 
implementation of the Fair Pay Information Clearinghouse a priority for 
the Women's Bureau for Fiscal Year 1996. The Clearinghouse is a direct 
response to working women's views, solicited by the Working Women 
Count! initiative begun in 1994, starting with a voluntary customer 
satisfaction survey and a scientific random sample. In both the popular 
survey and the scientific sample, working women clearly conveyed that 
they do not receive the level of pay and benefits needed to support 
themselves and their families. Respondents said that ``improving pay 
scales * * *'' was one of their highest priorities for workplace 
change. The Fair Pay Information Clearinghouse will assist employees 
and employers who want to improve wage-setting practices. The 
Clearinghouse will provide technical assistance to employees, employers 
and organizations on successful efforts to identify and remove sex and 
race discrimination in wage setting policies. In addition to providing 
wage and occupational data, which will be obtained from resources such 
as the Department's Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the Clearinghouse 
will also offer profiles of employers that have implemented pay 
adjustments based on pay equity studies, as well as offering 
organizational resources to contact for a variety of information on 
fair pay. Those who contact the Clearinghouse will learn about existing 
approaches to paying workers for the valuable work they do, regardless 
of whether or not that work has traditionally been performed by women 
and by people of color. Since the majority of women still work in 
traditionally female jobs, the Clearinghouse will provide these workers 
and their employers helpful tools to secure equal access to fair pay.

II. Current Actions

    Solicitors and/or Commissions on Women of 50 states, including 
local jurisdictions and school districts will be asked to respond to 
the items appearing on OMB approved form ``Organizations Working on 
Fair Pay Issues''. Information on the methodology used to implement 
fair pay adjustments will be gathered over the telephone utilizing OMB 
approved dialogue. Approximately 20 state entities that have made fair 
pay adjustments will be asked to provide descriptions of the 
methodologies used in distributing fair pay adjustments; these data 
should already be codified and the agencies simply need to send a copy 
of the descriptions that have been used. Ten researchers working in the 
field of fair pay will likely be requested to provide manuscripts and 
publications on the subject. Respondents have the option of 
transmitting their information electronically. Internet addresses and 
facsimile numbers are being provided for every aspect of this 
information collection.
    Type of Review: New.
    Agency: Women's Bureau.
    Title: The Fair Pay Information Clearinghouse Information 
Collection.
    Affected Public: Likely respondents are solicitors and/or 
Commissions on Women of 50 states, including local jurisdictions and 
school districts; Approximately 20 state entities that have made fair 
pay adjustments, and ten researchers working in the field of fair pay 
will likely be requested to provide manuscripts and publications on the 
subject.
    Total Respondents: Approximately 180 respondents.
    Frequency: Annual.
    Total Responses: 180.
    Average Time per Response: 9 hours.
    Estimated Total Burden Hours: 1,600.
    Total Burden Cost: (capital/startup): $19,160 (startup only).
    Total Burden Cost: (operating/maintaining): $19,160 for each 
subsequent year (maintenance only).
    Comments submitted in response to this comment request will be 
summarized and/or included in the request for Office of Management and 
Budget approval of the information

[[Page 13881]]
collection request; they will also become a matter of public record.

    Dated: March 22, 1996.
Ida L. Castro,
Acting Director.
[FR Doc. 96-7569 Filed 3-27-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-23-M