A $2 billion paid leave initiative as well as millions for enforcement of laws on equal opportunity, wage and hour issues, safety, whistleblowing, and retirement security are among the priorities outlined in President Barack Obama’s fiscal year 2016 budget for the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL).
On February 2, the DOL announced that the budget includes $2 billion for a Paid Leave Partnership Initiative to help as many as five states launch paid leave programs following the example of California, New Jersey, and Rhode Island. The DOL announcement said participating states would be eligible to receive funds for the initial setup and half of benefits for three years. The budget also includes a $35 million State Paid Leave Fund to provide technical assistance and support to states as they build the infrastructure needed to launch paid leave programs in the future, according to the DOL announcement.
Enforcement funds
The budget also includes nearly $1.9 billion for the DOL’s worker protection agencies:
- $207 million for the Employee Benefits Security Administration, which deals with retirement, health, and other benefits employers offer. The budget also includes proposals to make saving easier for workers without employer-based retirement plans, according to the DOL.
- $114 million for the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs to enforce equal employment opportunity laws affecting federal contractors.
- $277 million for the DOL’s Wage and Hour Division. The DOL said the funds would “ensure workers receive appropriate wages and overtime pay, as well as the right to take job-protected leave for family and medical leave purposes.”
- $592 million for the Occupational Safety and Health Administration for enforcement of safety and health regulations, inspections of hazardous workplaces, and strengthening protections for whistleblowers against retaliation.
- $395 million for the Mine Safety and Health Administration for enforcement of mine safety regulations.
Other priorities
The overall DOL budget calls for $13.2 billion in discretionary funding. It’s part of the president’s $3.99 trillion federal budget unveiled on February 2. The spending plan faces stiff opposition in Congress.
In addition to the paid leave initiative and funding for enforcement, the spending plan calls for funds to bolster efforts to connect workers with jobs. The DOL’s announcement says for workers who have lost jobs, the budget includes an additional $500 million for in-person employment services. The DOL says that investment would reach one-third of unemployment insurance beneficiaries who are most likely to run out of benefits before getting reemployed, all recently separated veterans who receive unemployment benefits, and other displaced workers who use the American Job Center network.
The budget also includes $2 billion to increase the number of Registered Apprenticeships across the country over the next five years. The budget also provides $500 million for competitive Industry Credentialing and Career Pathways Grants. The budget also addresses partnerships between community colleges and other training programs and employers.
The budget provides $3 billion aimed at meeting the needs of disconnected youth, including grants for localities to expand summer and year-round job opportunities and to create educational and workforce pathways.
How can I get information on these funds to look at and see if my employer/company can utilize any of these.
The five states for the Paid Leave Partnership Initiative have not been identified and none of the funding — for paid leave programs and other priorities mentioned including the apprenticeship, training, and grant programs — has been approved by Congress and opposition is expected. Here are links to detailed information about the president’s proposed spending plan: http://www.dol.gov/dol/budget/ and http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/budget .