[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 49 (Tuesday, March 14, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 13236-13237]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 06-2425]



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Part IV





Department of Labor





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Office of the Secretary



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Coordination and Direction of Department of Labor Programs Affecting 
Women; Notice

  Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 49 / Tuesday, March 14, 2006 / 
Notices  

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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Office of the Secretary

[Secretary's Order--07-2006]


Coordination and Direction of Department of Labor Programs 
Affecting Women

1. Purpose

    To reaffirm that all components of the Department of Labor (DOL) 
have the responsibility to work cooperatively to ensure that their 
missions fully address the needs and concerns of women in the 
workforce.

2. Authority and Directives Affected

    This Order is issued pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 301; 5 U.S.C. 5315; 29 
U.S.C. 551, et seq.; and 29 U.S.C. 11-14. This Order cancels 
Secretary's Order 03-95.

3. Background

    The Women's Bureau (WB) has responsibility, under 29 U.S.C. 13, for 
the ``formulation of standards and policies which shall promote the 
welfare of wage-earning women, improve their working conditions, 
increase their efficiency, and advance their opportunities for 
profitable employment.'' The WB also has ``authority to investigate and 
report to the [DOL] upon all matters pertaining to the welfare of women 
in industry. The director of said bureau may from time to time publish 
the results of these investigations in such a manner and to such extent 
as the Secretary of Labor may prescribe.'' The WB is the single unit at 
the Federal government level exclusively concerned with serving and 
promoting the interests of women in the workforce. Within DOL, the WB 
provides leadership and coordination of DOL activities which impact on 
women in the workforce.
    Through the years, that mission has become increasingly important 
due to the continuing expansion of women's participation in the 
workforce. Projections regarding the increasing participation of women 
in the workforce, coupled with the roles of women in the workforce, 
further reaffirm and reinforce the need for DOL agencies to work 
cooperatively.

4. Policy

    It is the policy of DOL that all of its activities and programs 
promote the welfare of all workers and that the needs of women in the 
workforce are properly addressed in the development and implementation 
of DOL policy, programs, research, evaluations, and materials. 
Therefore, DOL activities and programs that relate to, or may affect 
the participation of women in the nation's workforce must be 
coordinated with the Women's Bureau.

5. Delegation of Authority and Assignment of Responsibilities

    A. The Director of the Women's Bureau, as the principal advisor to 
the Secretary of Labor with respect to the interests and concerns of 
women in the workforce, is delegated authority and assigned 
responsibility for:
    (1) Advising and assisting the Secretary of Labor in the 
development and formulation of standards, policies, and programs that 
promote the welfare of wage-earning women, improve their working 
conditions, increase their efficiency, and advance their opportunities 
for profitable employment;
    (2) Ensuring coordination among DOL agencies on matters or programs 
related to or affecting women in the workforce;
    (3) Keeping the Secretary fully informed on the results of DOL's 
efforts by investigating and reporting to the Secretary upon all 
matters pertaining to the welfare of women in industry, and from time 
to time, preparing timely reports of these investigations on critical 
issues; and
    (4) Coordinating with DOL agency heads on policies and programs 
which impact or may impact women in the workforce.
    B. Women's Bureau Regional Administrators are delegated authority 
and assigned responsibility for:
    (1) Advising DOL Regional Agency Heads with respect to the concerns 
of women in the workforce;
    (2) Assisting Regional Agency Heads to carry out their 
responsibilities to implement this Order;
    (3) Serving as a member of the Regional Executive Committee;
    (4) Regularly meeting with Regional Representatives; and
    (5) Maintaining a liaison with the Solicitor of Labor.
    C. Agency Heads are delegated authority and assigned responsibility 
for coordinating with the Director of the Women's Bureau. This 
coordination must include, without limitation, the following:
    (1) Reviewing current practices and developing appropriate policies 
and programs to enhance the impact of agency activities on women in the 
workforce;
    (2) Consulting with the WB in the developmental stages of the 
preparation of policy materials (e.g., regulations, standards and other 
material for publication in the Federal Register, proposed legislation, 
Congressional testimony, statistical surveys, publications);
    (3) Consulting with the WB during the development of agency work 
plans to assure that the needs of women in the workforce are addressed 
and that efforts are coordinated with the WB;
    (4) Providing the WB with up-to-date information concerning 
developments relating to policies, plans, projects, studies, 
evaluations, proposals, programs, and agency publications (as they 
relate to women in the workforce);
    (5) Utilizing the expertise of the WB in the development and 
implementation of task forces, meetings, conferences, seminars, 
training sessions, and similar activities; and
    (6) On a regular basis, briefing DOL staff on their agency's 
commitment to address the needs of women in the workforce.
    D. The Regional Representatives are delegated authority and 
assigned responsibility to consult with the WB Regional Administrators 
on issues affecting women in the workforce.
    E. DOL Agency Regional Administrators and other Agency Regional 
Heads are delegated authority and assigned responsibility for:
    (1) Coordinating with WB Regional Administrators regarding regional 
policies, programs, and activities that impact women in the workforce;
    (2) Consulting with the WB during the development of agency 
strategic plans to assure that the needs of women in the workforce are 
addressed;
    (3) Providing the WB Regional Administrators with up-to-date 
information concerning developments relating to policies, plans, 
projects, studies, evaluations, proposals, programs, and agency 
publications (as they relate to women in the workforce);
    (4) Utilizing the expertise of the WB in the development and 
implementation of task forces, meetings, conferences, seminars, 
training sessions, and similar activities; and
    (5) On a regular basis, briefing regional staff on their agency's 
commitment to address the needs of women in the workforce.
    F. The Solicitor of Labor is delegated authority and assigned 
responsibility for providing legal advice and assistance to all 
officials of the Department relating to the authorities of this Order, 
for bringing appropriate legal actions on behalf of the Secretary, and 
representing the Secretary in all civil proceedings.

6. Reservation of Authority

    A. The submission of reports and recommendations to the President 
and the Congress concerning the administration of statutory or

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administrative provisions is reserved to the Secretary.
    B. This Secretary's Order does not affect the authorities and 
responsibilities of the Office of Inspector General under the Inspector 
General Act of 1978, as amended, or under Secretary's Order 04-2006 
(February 21, 2006).

7. Effective Date

    This Order is effective immediately.

    Dated: March 3, 2006.
Elaine L. Chao,
Secretary of Labor.
[FR Doc. 06-2425 Filed 3-13-06; 8:45 am]
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