[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 144 (Wednesday, July 26, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 46003-46004]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-18868]


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

DATES: Written comments must be submitted to the office listed in the 
Addresses section of this notice on or before September 25, 2000.

ADDRESSES: Send comments to Sytrina D. Toon, BLS Clearance Officer, 
Division of Management Systems, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Room 3255, 
2 Massachusetts Avenue, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20212, telephone number 
202-691-7628 (this is not a toll free number).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Sytrina D. Toon, BLS Clearance 
Officer, telephone number 202-691-7628. (See ADDRESSES Section.)

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 find themselves in ``contingent jobs'' 
that are structured to last for only limited duration or in alternative 
employment arrangements such as independent contracting, on-call work, 
working through a contract company or through a temporary help firm. It 
is feared that workers with such employment may have little job 
security, low pay, and no employee benefits. This CPS supplement will 
provide objective information about ``contingent work.''

II. Desired Focus of Comments

    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.

III. Current Action

    The Contingent Work Supplement to the CPS provides information on 
the number and characteristics of workers in contingent jobs, that is, 
jobs that 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 through temporary help 
agencies or contract companies.
    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 to the Current Population Survey.
    OMB Number: 1220-0153.
    Affected Public: Households.
    Total Respondents: 48,000.
    Frequency: Monthly.
    Total Responses: 48,000.
    Average Time Per Response: 9 minutes.
    Estimated total Burden Hours: 7,200 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

[[Page 46004]]

information collection request; they also will become a matter of 
public record.

    Signed at Washington, D.C., this 20th day of July 2000.
W. Stuart Rust, Jr.,
Chief, Division of Management Systems, Bureau of Labor Statistics.
[FR Doc. 00-18868 Filed 7-25-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-24-M