[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 249 (Thursday, December 29, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Page 77190]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E5-8015]



[[Page 77190]]

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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 of Apprentices, 
Messengers and Learners (Including Student-Learners and Student-
Workers), Forms WH-205 and 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 February 27, 2006.

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: [email protected]. Please 
use only one method of transmission for comments (mail, fax, or e-
mail).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION

I. Background

    Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) 14(a) requires that the Secretary 
of Labor, to the extent necessary to prevent curtailment of employment 
opportunities, provide by regulations or orders for the employment of 
categories of workers who, under special certificates, 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, including student-learners and student-
workers. Regulations found at 29 CFR Part 520 contain the provisions 
that implement the FLSA 14(a) requirements. Form WH-205 is the 
application an employer uses to obtain a certificate to employ student-
learners at wages lower than the general federal minimum wage. Form WH-
209 is the application an employer uses to request a certificate 
authorizing the employer to employ learners and/or messengers at 
subminimum wage rates. There is no application form that employers 
complete to obtain authority from DOL to employ apprentices at 
subminimum wages. This information collection is currently approved for 
use through July 31, 2006.

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 Wage and Hour Division seeks the approval of the extension of 
this information collection to obtain wage data in order to determine 
current prevailing wage rates in the various localities throughout the 
country.
    Type of Review: Extension.
    Agency: Employment Standards Administration.
    Title: Employment of Apprentices, Messengers and Learners 
(Including Student-Learners and Student-Workers).
    OMB Number: 1215-0192.
    Agency Number: WH-205 and WH-209.
    Affected Public: Business or other for-profit; Not-for-profit 
institutions; State, Local or Tribal Government.
    Total Respondents: 929.
    Total Annual Responses: 929.
    Type of Response: Recordkeeping; Reporting and Third-Party 
Disclosure.
    Estimated Time per Response: 30 minutes.
    Estimated Total Burden Hours: 465.
    Frequency: Annually.
    Total Burden Cost (capital/startup): $0.
    Total Burden Cost (operating/maintenance): $371.60.
    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: December 22, 2005.
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. E5-8015 Filed 12-28-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-27-P