[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 160 (Friday, August 16, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 42663-42664]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-20926]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
Bureau of Labor Statistics


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 Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) is soliciting comments 
concerning the proposed reinstatement of the ``Contingent Work 
Supplement to the Current Population Survey.''
    A copy of the proposed information collection request (ICR) can be 
obtained by contacting the individual listed below in the ADDRESSES 
section of this notice.

DATES: Written comments must be submitted to the office listed in the 
ADDRESSES section below on or before October 15, 1996.
    The Bureau of Labor Statistics 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 clarity 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: Send comments to Karin G. Kurz, BLS Clearance Officer, 
Division of Management Systems, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Room 3255, 
2 Massachusetts Avenue NE., Washington, DC 20212. Ms. Kurz can be 
reached on 202-606-7628 (this is not a toll free number).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

    The CPS has been the principal source of the official Government 
statistics on employment and unemployment for over 50 years. Collection 
of labor force data through the CPS is necessary to meet the 
requirements in Title 29, United States Code, Sections 1 through 9. 
Since the mid-1980s, there has been a growing belief among labor market 
researchers that employers require greater flexibility in their use of 
labor. As a result, many workers may find themselves in ``contingent 
jobs'' which are structured to last for only a limited duration or in 
alternative employment arrangements such as independent contracting, 
on-call work, contracting work, and working through temporary help 
firms. It is feared that workers with such employment may have little 
job security, low pay, and no fringe benefits. While anecdotal 
information about contingent and alternative employment abounds, 
accurate measurement of the extent and nature of

[[Page 42664]]

the phenomenon is lacking. This CPS supplement would provide objective 
information about ``contingent work.''

II. Current Actions

    The contingent work supplement provides information on the number 
and characteristics of workers in contingent jobs, that is, jobs which 
are structured to last only a limited period of time. The survey also 
provides information about workers in several alternative employment 
arrangements, including those working as independent contractors and 
on-call workers, as well as those working through temporary help 
agencies or contract companies. The supplement was first conducted in 
February 1995. While the initial collection provided a wealth of 
information on contingent and alternative employment arrangements, 
being a new survey, it could not provide any information on the trend 
in such employment. A key purpose of the February 1997 collection is to 
provide a second point of comparison. This will enable the BLS and 
other researchers to examine whether contingent and alternative 
employment arrangements are becoming more common.
    Type of Review: Reinstatement, with change, of a previously 
approved collection for which approval has expired.
    Agency: Bureau of Labor Statistics.
    Title: Contingent Work Supplement.
    OMB Number: 1220-0153.
    Affected Public: Individuals.
    Total Respondents: 60,000 individuals.
    Frequency: One-time only.
    Total Responses: 60,000 individuals.
    Average Time Per Response: 8 minutes.
    Estimated Total Burden Hours: 8,000 hours.
    Total Burden Cost (capital/startup): $0.
    Total Burden Cost (operating/maintenance): $0.
    Comments submitted in response to this notice will be summarized 
and/or included in the request for Office of Management and Budget 
approval of the information collection request; they also will become a 
matter of public record.

    Signed at Washington, D.C., this 12th day of August, 1996.
Peter T. Spolarich,
Chief, Division of Management Systems, Bureau of Labor Statistics.
[FR Doc. 96-20926 Filed 8-15-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-24-M