Labor & Employment

H-2A and H-2B Allowable Charges for Meals and Travel Subsistence Updated

The Department of Labor's Employment and Training Administration published an annual update to allowable meal charges and travel subsistence reimbursement rates for H-2A and H-2B foreign workers. The notice updates the maximum amounts that H-2B employers may charge agricultural workers for meals and the lodging rates that qualify for meal deduction, effective April 7, 2026. This is a routine annual adjustment of existing rates with no new policy requirements.

Virtual Hiring Event - Maine CareerCenters

Maine Department of Labor announces a virtual hiring event on May 7, 2026, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., hosted by Maine CareerCenters. Job seekers can chat with employers, submit applications and resumes online, and upload resumes for employer viewing. The event aims to connect job seekers with employment opportunities across Maine.

South Dakota Contractor Sued for Firing Injury-Reporting Whistleblower

The U.S. Department of Labor filed suit against Stone Hill Excavation LLC and its successor Split Rock Sand & Gravel in U.S. District Court for the District of South Dakota. OSHA found the companies violated whistleblower provisions of the Occupational Safety and Health Act by firing an employee two days after the worker reported second- and third-degree burns from a pressurized pipe incident. The department seeks reinstatement, back wages, and $100,000 in punitive damages.

Construction Company Sued for Whistleblower Retaliation

The Department of Labor filed suit against Stone Hill Excavation LLC and its successor Split Rock Sand & Gravel in U.S. District Court for the District of South Dakota for allegedly violating whistleblower protection provisions under the Occupational Safety and Health Act. OSHA determined the company wrongfully terminated an employee two days after reporting a severe work-related injury involving second- and third-degree burns. The suit seeks reinstatement, back wages, and $100,000 in punitive damages.

Application for Use of Public Space in Frances Perkins Building

The Department of Labor's Office of the Assistant Secretary for Administration and Management (OASAM) is soliciting public comments on a proposed information collection under the Paperwork Reduction Act for applications to use public space in the Frances Perkins Building. The collection captures requester information, event descriptions, dates, times, and approvals. DOL receives fewer than 10 non-DOL agency requests annually but must maintain PRA authority as the collection is of general applicability.

MSHA Delays Silica Exposure Rule for Miners

MSHA issued a final rule delaying the effective date of conforming amendments to its respirable crystalline silica standards for metal and nonmetal mines. The delay follows a judicial stay from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit. Existing standards in 30 CFR 56.5001, 56.5005, 57.5001, and 57.5005 remain in effect while the court reviews the 2024 Silica Rule.

Ladder Safety System Deadline Removal

OSHA has published a proposed rule to remove the compliance deadline requiring fixed ladders exceeding 24 feet above a lower level to be equipped with personal fall arrest systems or ladder safety systems. The agency is accepting public comments until June 5, 2026 on whether to repeal or revise the personal fall arrest system requirement and instead permit employers to continue using ladder cages or wells.

BOLI Warns of Scam Targeting Spanish-Speaking Workers

The Oregon Bureau of Labor and Industries (BOLI) published two press releases warning of a scam targeting Spanish-speaking workers in the state. The announcements, available in both English and Spanish, were issued on April 6, 2026, to alert vulnerable worker populations about fraudulent schemes. BOLI issued this consumer protection advisory as part of its outreach mission to Oregon's immigrant and Spanish-speaking communities.

Asset Allocation Interest Assumptions for Single-Employer Plans

The Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC) issued a final rule amending 29 CFR Part 4044 to update the spreads component of the interest assumption for valuing benefits under terminating single-employer plans. The rule applies to plans with valuation dates from April 30, 2026 through July 30, 2026. These quarterly updates to the 4044 yield curve ensure that pension liability calculations align with current private-sector group annuity pricing.

Adjustments to Official Medical Fee Schedule for Medicare DMEPOS Changes

The California Division of Workers' Compensation (DWC) posted an order adjusting the Durable Medical Equipment, Prosthetics, Orthotics and Supplies (DMEPOS) section of the Official Medical Fee Schedule to conform to 2026 Medicare payment system changes as required by Labor Code section 5307.1. The adjustment adopts Medicare's April 2026 Quarter 2 DMEPOS Fee Schedule update and is effective for services on or after April 1, 2026.