[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 30 (Monday, February 14, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 7397-7398]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-3340]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment Standards Administration


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 Employment Standards Administration is soliciting 
comments concerning the proposed extension collections of Form WH-501 
and WH-501S, Wage Statement (Wage and Hour Division). A copy of the 
proposed information collection request 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 April 14, 2000.

ADDRESSES: Ms. Patricia A. Forkel, U.S. Department of Labor, 200 
Constitution Ave., NW, Room S-3201, Washington, DC 20210, telephone 
(202) 693-0339 (this is not a toll-free number), fax (202) 693-1451.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

    The Migrant and Seasonal Agricultural Worker Protection Act (MSPA) 
requires that each farm labor contractor, agricultural employer, and

[[Page 7398]]

agricultural association which employs any migrant or seasonal worker, 
make, keep, and preserve records for three years for each worker 
concerning the basis on which earnings are paid, the number of piece 
work units earned, if applicable, the number of hours worked, the total 
pay period earnings, the specific sums withheld and the purpose of each 
sum withheld, and the net pay. It is also required that an itemized 
written statement of this information be provided to each worker each 
pay period. The WH-501 (English) and WH-501S (Spanish) are optional 
forms which an employer may use for this purpose.

II. Review Focus

    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 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.

III. Current Actions

    The Department of Labor seeks the extension of this information 
collection in order to carry out its responsibility to determine 
compliance with applicable provisions of the Migrant and Seasonal 
Agricultural Worker Protection Act (MSPA). While use of the forms is 
optional, disclosure and maintenance of the information is required by 
MSPA.
    Type of Review: Extension.
    Agency: Employment Standards Administration.
    Title: Wage Statement.
    OMB Number: 1215-0148.
    Agency Number: WH-501 and WH-501(S).
    Affected Public: Farms; Businesses or other for-profit; individuals 
or households.
    Total Respondents: 1.4 million.
    Frequency: Recordkeeping; Third party disclosure, Reporting on 
occasion.
    Total Responses: 34 million.
    Average Time per Response: 1 minute.
    Estimated Total Burden Hours: 566,667.
    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 will also become a 
matter of public record.

    Dated: February 8, 2000.
Margaret J. Sherrill,
Chief, Branch of Management Review and Internal Control, Division of 
Financial Management, Office of Management, Administration and 
Planning, Employment Standards Administration.
[FR Doc. 00-3340 Filed 2-11-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-27-M