[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 74 (Tuesday, April 18, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 19902-19903]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-5759]


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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-501 (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 June 19, 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: Sections 201(d) and 301(c) of the Migrant and 
Seasonal Agricultural Worker Protection Act (MSPA) and section 500.80 
of Regulations 29 CFR part 500, Migrant and Seasonal Agricultural 
Worker Protection, require that each farm labor contractor, 
agricultural employer, and agricultural association which employs any 
migrant or seasonal worker, make, keep, and preserve 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 paid on 
piece work basis, 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-501 (Spanish) are optional forms 
which a farm labor contractor, agricultural employer and agricultural 
association can maintain as a record and provide as a statement of 
earnings to migrant and seasonal agricultural workers and users of such 
workers listing the method of payment of wages.
    This information collection is currently approved for use through 
August 31, 2006.

[[Page 19903]]

    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 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 MSPA. While use of the forms is optional, disclosure and 
maintenance of the information is required by the MSPA.
    Type of Review: Extension.
    Agency: Employment Standards Administration.
    Title: Wage Statement.
    OMB Number: 1215-0148.
    Agency Number: WH-501 (English) and WH-501 (Spanish).
    Affected Public: Business or other for-profit; Farms.
    Total Respondents: 1.387 million.
    Total Responses: 41.34 million.
    Time per Response: 1 minute.
    Frequency: Recordkeeping; Third party disclosure, Reporting on 
occasion.
    Estimated Total Burden Hours: 689,000.
    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: April 13, 2006.
Ruben L. Wiley,
Chief, Branch of Management Review and Internal Control, Division of 
Financial Management, Office of Management, Administration and 
Planning, Employment Standards Administration.
[FR Doc. E6-5759 Filed 4-17-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-27-P