[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 24 (Friday, February 5, 1999)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 5725]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-2747]
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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
Employment and Training Administration
20 CFR Parts 655 and 656
RIN 1215-AB09
Labor Condition Applications and Requirements for Employers Using
Nonimmigrants on H-1B Visas in Speciality Occupations and as Fashion
Models; Labor Certification Process for Permanent Employment of Aliens
in the United States
AGENCY: Employment and Training Administration, Labor, in concurrence
with the Wage and Hour Division, Employment Standards Administration,
Labor.
ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking; Extension of comment period.
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SUMMARY: This document extends the period for filing comments regarding
a proposed rule to implement recent legislation and clarify existing
Departmental rules relating to the temporary employment in the United
States of nonimmigrants under H-1B visas (20 CFR part 655), and
provides an opportunity for additional comments to implement an ACWIA
provision which modifies the methodology for the determination of the
prevailing wage under the Permanent Labor Certification program (20 CFR
part 656).
DATES: Comments must be received on or before February 19, 1999.
ADDRESSES: Submit written comments concerning Part 655 to Deputy
Administrator, Wage and Hour Division, ATTN: Immigration Team, U.S.
Department of Labor, Room S-3502, 200 Constitution Avenue, NW,
Washington, DC 20210. If you want to receive notification that we
received your comments, you should include a self-addressed stamped
post card. You may submit your comments by facsimile (``FAX'') machine
to (202) 693-1432. This is not a toll free number.
Submit written comments concerning Part 656 to the Assistant
Secretary for Employment and Training, ATTN: Division of Foreign Labor
Certifications, U.S. Employment Service, Employment and Training
Administration, Department of Labor, Room N-4456, 200 Constitution
Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20210. If you want to receive notification
that we received your comments, you should include a self-addressed
stamped post card. You may submit your comments by facsimile (``FAX'')
machine to (202) 208-5844. This is not a toll-free number.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: On part 655, contact either of the
following:
Michael Ginley, Director, Office of Enforcement Policy, Wage and
Hour Division, Employment Standards Administration, Department of
Labor, Room S-3510, 200 Constitution Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20210.
Telephone: (202) 693-0745 (this is not a toll-free number).
James Norris, Chief, Division of Foreign Labor Certifications, U.S.
Employment Service, Employment and Training Administration, Department
of Labor, Room N-4456, 200 Constitution Avenue, NW, Washington, DC
20210. Telephone: (202) 219-5263 (this is not a toll-free number).
On Part 656, contact James Norris, Chief, Division of Foreign Labor
Certifications, U.S. Employment Service, Employment and Training
Administration, Department of Labor, Room N-4456, 200 Constitution
Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20210. Telephone: (202) 219-5263 (this is
not a toll-free number).
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In the Federal Register of January 5, 1999
(64 FR 628), the Department of Labor published a proposed rule intended
to revise 20 CFR parts 655 and 656 which concern Labor Condition
Applications and Requirements for Employers Using Nonimmigrants on H-1B
Visas in Specialty Occupations and as Fashion Models, and the Labor
Certification Process for Permanent Employment of Aliens in the United
States.
Specifically, the Department published this notice of proposed
rulemaking to obtain public comment on issues to be addressed in
regulations to implement changes made to the Immigration and
Nationality Act (INA) by the American Competitiveness and Workforce
Improvement Act of 1998 (ACWIA). In addition, the Department is
providing an opportunity for additional comments on certain provisions
which were previously published for comment as a Proposed Rule in 1995
(60 FR 55339).
The Department also proposed to modify regulations to implement an
ACWIA provision which modifies the methodology for the determination of
the prevailing wage under the Permanent Labor Certification program (20
CFR part 656). This methodology is also applicable to prevailing wages
for the H-1B program. After receiving public comments on this notice of
proposed rulemaking, the Department plans to publish an Interim Final
Rule (inviting further comment) and a Final Rule (after reviewing all
the comments received).
Because of the continuing interest in this proposal, the agency
believes that it is desirable to extend the comment period for all
interested persons. Therefore, the comment period for the proposed
rule, revising 20 CFR parts 655 and 656, is extended to February 19,
1999.
Signed at Washington, DC, this 2nd day of February, 1999.
Raymond J. Uhalde,
Deputy Assistant Secretary for Employment and Training, Employment and
Training Administration.
John R. Fraser,
Deputy Administrator, Wage and Hour Division, Employment Standards
Administration.
[FR Doc. 99-2747 Filed 2-4-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-30-M