[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 19 (Wednesday, January 29, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Page 4523]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-2015]



[[Page 4523]]

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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 collection: Employment Under Special 
Certificates of Apprentices, Messengers and Learners (including Student 
Learners) (WH-205, WH-209). A copy of the proposed information 
collection request can be obtained by contacting the office 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 March 31, 2003.

ADDRESSES: Ms. Patricia A. Forkel, U.S. Department of Labor, 200 
Constitution Ave., NW,. Room S-3201, Washington, DC 20210, telephone 
(202) 693-0339, fax (202) 693-1451, E-mail esa.gov">[email protected]esa.gov. 
Please use only one method of transmission for comments (mail, fax, or 
E-mail).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

    Under section 14(a) of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), the 
Secretary of Labor is required, to the extent necessary to prevent 
curtailment of employment opportunities, to provide for employment 
under special certificates of categories of workers who may be paid 
less than the statutory minimum wage. This section also authorizes the 
Secretary to set limitations on such employment as to time, number, 
proportion and length of service. These workers include apprentices, 
messengers and learners. Form WH-209 is an Application for a 
Certificate to Employ Learners/Messengers at Subminimum Wages. The WH-
205 is an Application to Employ Student Learners at Subminimum wages. 
In addition, an employer may obtain authority from the Department to 
employ apprentices at subminimum wages. There is no application form 
associated with the application for apprentices; the employer must 
submit a copy of the registered apprenticeship program or agreement. 
These requirements are found at 29 CFR part 520. This information 
collection is currently approved for use through July 31, 2003.

II. Review Focus

    The Department of Labor is particularly interested in comments 
which:
    [sbull] 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;
    [sbull] 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;
    [sbull] Enhance the quality, utility and clarity of the information 
to be collected; and
    [sbull] 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 approval to collect 
this information in order to determine whether statutory and regulatory 
requirements for the employment of messengers/apprentices/learners have 
been met. There is no change in the substance or method of collection 
since the last OMB approval.
    Type of Review: Extension.
    Agency: Employment Standards Administration.
    Title: Employment Under Special Certificates of Apprentices, 
Messengers and Learners (including Student Learners).
    OMB Number: 1215-0192.
    Agency Number: WH-205, WH-209.
    Affected Public: Business or other for-profit, Individuals or 
households, Not-for-profit institutions, State, Local or Tribal 
Government.

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                                                                 Respondents/       Time per
                       Form/requirement                           responses         response       Burden hours
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WH-209.......................................................                0               NA                0
WH-205.......................................................              400          30 min.              200
Apprentice Application.......................................                0               NA                0
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    Total Respondents/Responses: 400.
    Frequency: Annually.
    Estimated Total Burden Hours: 400.
    Total Burden Cost (capital/startup): $0.
    Total Burden Cost (operating/maintenance): $2,866.
    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: January 23, 2003.
Bruce Bohanon,
Chief, Branch of Management Review and Internal Control, Division of 
Financial Management, Office of Management, Administration and 
Planning, Employment Standards Administration.
[FR Doc. 03-2015 Filed 1-28-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-27-P