Labor Department Seeks OMB Review for National Worker Survey
Summary
The Department of Labor is requesting public comments on its submission to the Office of Management and Budget for review of the National Worker Survey. This survey aims to estimate non-compliance with the Fair Labor Standards Act among workers, particularly in low-wage sectors.
What changed
The Department of Labor (DOL) has published a notice requesting public comments on its information collection request (ICR) for the National Worker Survey, which is being submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review under the Paperwork Reduction Act. The survey's objective is to estimate the prevalence of non-compliance with the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) among nonexempt workers across various industries, with a focus on low-wage sectors, using both address-based and respondent-driven sampling methods.
This action is a request for comments on the necessity, utility, accuracy, and clarity of the proposed survey, as well as methods to minimize respondent burden. The comment period closes on April 27, 2026. While this notice itself does not impose new compliance obligations, the underlying survey, if approved by OMB, will be used by DOL to inform its FLSA compliance and enforcement strategies. Entities that may be surveyed should be aware of this process, and any comments on the ICR should be submitted by the specified deadline.
What to do next
- Submit written comments on the ICR to www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain by April 27, 2026.
- Review the proposed information collection for necessity, accuracy, utility, and clarity.
- Consider methods to minimize respondent burden.
Penalties
No person shall generally be subject to penalty for failing to comply with a collection of information that does not display a valid OMB Control Number.
Source document (simplified)
Notice
Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request; National Worker Survey
A Notice by the Labor Department on 03/26/2026
This document has a comment period that ends in 32 days.
(04/27/2026) View Comment InstructionsPDF
Document Details
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- Public Inspection Published Document: 2026-05866 (91 FR 14723) Document Headings ###### Department of Labor
ACTION:
Notice of availability; request for comments.
SUMMARY:
The Department of Labor (DOL) is submitting this Chief Evaluation Office (CEO)-sponsored information collection request (ICR) to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA). Public comments on the ICR are invited.
DATES:
The OMB will consider all written comments that the agency receives on or before April 27, 2026.
ADDRESSES:
Written comments and recommendations for the proposed information collection should be sent within 30 days of publication of this notice to www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain. Find this particular information collection by selecting “Currently under 30-day Review—Open for Public Comments” or by using the search function.
Comments are invited on: (1) whether the collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the Department, including whether the information will have practical utility; (2) the accuracy of the agency's estimates of the burden and cost of the collection of information, including the validity of the methodology and assumptions used; (3) ways to enhance the quality, utility and clarity of the information collection; and (4) ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on those who are to respond, including the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Nicole Bouchet by telephone at 202-693-0213, or by email at DOLPRAPUBLIC@dol.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
The National Worker Survey aims to estimate the prevalence of non-compliance with the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) among nonexempt workers across various industries, with an emphasis on low-wage sectors. The survey employs both Address-Based Sampling to reach a representative sample of nonexempt U.S. workers and Respondent-Driven Sampling to gather data from workers in industries with higher incidences of wage and hour violations. The data collected will inform DOL in its efforts to improve compliance with the FLSA, optimize enforcement strategies, and enhance protections for vulnerable workers. For additional substantive information about this ICR, see the related notice published in the Federal Register on August 8, 2024 (89 FR 64960).
This information collection is subject to the PRA. A Federal agency generally cannot conduct or sponsor a collection of information, and the public is generally not required to respond to an information collection, unless the OMB approves it and displays a currently valid OMB Control Number. In addition, notwithstanding any other provisions of law, no person shall generally be subject to penalty for failing to comply with a collection of information that does not display a valid OMB Control Number. See 5 CFR 1320.5(a) and 1320.6.
DOL seeks PRA authorization for this information collection for three (3) years. OMB authorization for an ICR cannot be for more than three (3) years without renewal. The DOL notes that information collection requirements submitted to the OMB for existing ICRs ( printed page 14724) receive a month-to-month extension while they undergo review.
Agency: DOL-CEO.
Title of Collection: National Worker Survey.
OMB Control Number: 1290-0NEW.
Affected Public: Individuals or Households.
Total Estimated Number of Respondents: 5,227.
Total Estimated Number of Responses: 5,227.
Total Estimated Annual Time Burden: 1,535 hours.
Total Estimated Annual Other Costs Burden: $0.
(Authority: 44 U.S.C. 3507(a)(1)(D))
Nicole Bouchet,
Senior Paperwork Reduction Act Analyst.
[FR Doc. 2026-05866 Filed 3-25-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-HX-P
Published Document: 2026-05866 (91 FR 14723)
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