[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 45 (Friday, March 7, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 11154-11155]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-5410]


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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: Wage Statement (WH-501 
(English) and WH-501S (Spanish)). 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 May 6, 2003.

ADDRESSES: Ms. Hazel M. Bell, U.S. Department of Labor, 200 
Constitution Ave., NW., Room S-3201, Washington, DC 20210, telephone 
(202) 693-0418, 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

    The Migrant and Seasonal Agricultural Worker Protection Act (MSPA) 
and it regulations 29 CFR part 500 requires that each Farm labor 
contractor, agricultural employer, and agricultural association that 
employs any migrant or seasonal worker, make, keep, and preserve 
itemized records for three years for each worker. These records include 
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. This information collection 
is currently approved for use through August 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;

[[Page 11155]]

    [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 approval for 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 (English) and WH-501S (Spanish).
    Affected Public: Farms; Business or other for-profit; Individuals 
or households.
    Total Respondents: 1.4 million.
    Total Responses: 34 million.
    Time per Response: 1 minute.
    Frequency: Recordkeeping; Third party disclosure, Reporting on 
occasion.
    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: March 3, 2003.
Sue Blumenthal,
Acting Chief, Branch of Management Review and Internal Control, 
Division of Financial Management, Office of Management, Administration 
and Planning, Employment Standards Administration.
[FR Doc. 03-5410 Filed 3-6-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-27-P