The Office of the Solicitor provides the full range of legal services required by the Secretary and Departmental program officials in achieving the Department's mission. The Solicitor also provides legal advisory, legislative and litigation services under some 80 laws including the Fair Labor Standards Act, varied duties under certain sections of the Federal Coal Mine Health and Safety Act, Longshoremen's and Harbor Workers' Compensation Act, the LaborManagement Reporting and Disclosure Act, Executive Orders 11246 and 11491, Employee Retirement Income Security Act, and a variety of other statutes. (Authorizing Legislation: 37 STAT 736, 738; 29 USC 555)

In 1976, full implementation of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act will command special attention and a high level of legal adivsory services are expected to be rendered to interested parties; litigation will be initiated to the Labor-Management Services Administration staff as their investigations uncover violations. Similarly, it is expected that workers assistance requests under the Trade Act will reach significant numbers and legal assistance will be provided at the 600 hearings anticipated, in publication of Federal Register material, and in assisting with appeals from the denial of adjustment assistance.

A continuing high level of field litigation is anticipated with additional cases being generated by enforcement of the 1974 Fair Labor Standards Act Amendments and the Department's emphasis on anti-discrimination measures through stepped up enforcement of the Equal Pay Act and the Age Discrimination in Employment Act. Overall legal actions filed in the field are expected to reflect an increase from 2,450 to 2,570 actions.

National Office support of field litigation is expected to take the form of increased coordination of complex Equal Pay and Age Discrimination in Employment Act cases involving large national firms whose operations are found in several regions. Increased litigation is anticipated in the Contract Compliance Program under E.0. 11246 as compliance activities are continued against major employers and target industries.

A significant level of legal advisory services is anticipated with the further implementation of the Emergency Unemployment Compensation Act, the Emergency Jobs and Unemployment Assistance Act, the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and the Comprehensive Employment and Training Act. Litigation cases under the Black Lung provision of the Federal Coal Mine Health and Safety Act are expected to number 3,000 and require considerable legal review and participation by attorneys before Administrative Law Judges, the Benefits Review Board, and the various U. S. Courts of Appeals.

The continued and stepped up utilization of word processing equipment and the use of trained legal para-professionals are expected to result in increased efficiency.

Objectives for Transitional Period (July 1 September 30, 1976):

Attention will

be placed on furnishing increased level of legal advisory services under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act, Trade Act, and other statutes enacted in FY 75.

Activity 3. INTERNATIONAL LABOR AFFAIRS

(1976, $4,721,000, Pos. 160 July 1 September 30, 1976 $1,180,000, Pos. 160)

Narrative Description of Program

This activity fulfills the Department's responsibilities: (1) as a statutory member of the Council on International Economic Policy (CIEP) for the formulation of international economic, trade, and monetary policy; (2) as prescribed by the Trade Expansion Act of 1962 and the Trade Act of 1974, with respect to trade negotiations and the administration of trade agreements; (3) for advising the President on policy issues relating to the administration of the trade agreement program; (4) for administering trade adjustment assistance to workers; (5) as a member of the Board of the Foreign Service for the formulation of management policies including the employee-management relations program and the direction of the U.S. Labor Attache program; (6) for U.S. Government representation and substantive policies for U.S. participation in the International Labor Organization (ILO); (7) for participation and support for U.S. representation on labor-associated questions coming before other U.N. and regional organizations; (8) as a statutory member of the Development Coordination Committee under the Foreign Assistance Act of 1973; (9) for international technical assistance activities with the Agency for International Development and bilateral economic development commissions and multilateral organizations and, (10) for cultural exchange activities under contractual relationships with the Department of State, United States Information Agency, and other organizations. (Authorizing Legislation: 37STAT 736, 738)

In 1976, the fo.eign economis piry workload will increase substantially. In particular, it is anticipated that the multilateral trade negotiations will be at their height in FY 1976, leading to an intensification of work in both Washington and Geneva. Burcau staff will be in residence in Geneva for the duration of the negotiations or on an as-needed basis. The Bureau has a responsibility for ensuring that the interests of labor are taken fully into account in the process of negotiating.

Various provisions of the Trade Act other than negotiating authority will be meeting their first tests in FY 1976. For example, the liberalized escape clause under which industries may seek relief from injury by imports will probably bring more cases for consideration by the International Trade Commission (formerly the Tarifi Commission) and the Executive Branch. In thesc cases the Department of Labor must advise the President on the extent to which adjustment assistance will help meet the problems of the industries seeking relief.

As a result of the liberalized provisions of the new Trade Act, it is estimated that about 600 worker petitions will be filed, and as many as 100,000 workers may become eligible for adjustment assistance.

In the textile area it is anticipated that a number of negotiations initiated in FY 1975 will have to be completed in FY 1976 to conform existing bilateral agreements to the multifiber arrangement. Additionally. a number of textile agreements will require consultations involving general review and inplementation of the agreements. Some of these consultations or renegotiations will be held in Washington, and some will be held abroad. Discussions in Washington and Geneva on the future of the multifiber arrangement must also begin in FY 1976.

The Department will seek to expand the State-labor interchange program and to expand our information back & pping system designed to improve the performance of laber ano econo. ic officers in the field. A related question for consideration will be organization of periodic conferences for Foreign Service Officers to stimulate improved awareness of the Department's changing needs.

The Department has continued and expanded its activities in support of U.S. foreign assistance. During the first half of FY 1975, 736 foreign trade union leaders, government officials and technicians from 70 countries visited in the U.S. under programs arranged by the Department. Technical experts were provided to AID, ILO, OAS and the Asian Statistical Institute. In collabc.acion with the Departments of State, Treasury and other agencies, feasibility studies and program proposals were produced for several of the bilateral economic development commissions. The Foreign Assistance Act of 1973 established an interagency Development Coordination Committee, including the Department of Labor among the member agencies. This new statutory obligation involves the Department of Labor in a wider range of policy making than previously.

In the ILO, in addition to the regular volume of work, the Department will seek to improve its capability for analysis and evaluation to increase U.S. influence in the shaping of ILO program content and priorities and to provide a better oversight on how ILO money is spent. The U.S. contributes thought the UN Development Program and the regular ILO budget approximately $27,000,000 of the $100,000,000 the ILO spends annually. A major concern will be to assume greater leadership through the development of program proposals consistent with U.S. interests. Closer consultation with other governments will be required.

Participation in the OECD will be somewhat above the 1975 level. Department will be involved in the work of OECD groups which deal with foreign investment and trade developments that affect the welfare of American workers.

The

In the field of international technical cooperation, the Department will make new efforts to expand direct working relations with selected multilateral organizations in an effort to strengthen governmental institutions charged with labor and manpower activities in the developing countries, and to implement programs to strengthen democratic trade unions overseas. The Department will respond to requests made through the bilateral economic development commissions when foreign resources are provided to purchase U.S. technical and managerial expertise as envisaged in Sec. 607 of the Foreign Assistance Act. The Department will also convene a series of seminars, conferences and workshops on labor subjects in Africa, Eastern Europe, the Middle East and Latin American and provide through Department of Labor International Technical Assistance Corps (DOLITAC), senior staff to train and advise labor and planning ministries in developing countries.

Objectives for Transitional Period (July 1 September 30, 1976): To closely monitor and analyze developments under the Trade Act, to improve United States negotiating positions, provide for improved benefit delivery, to assist in escape-clause determinations and improve operation of the bilateral textile program.

Activity 4. ADMINISTRATION AND MANAGEMENT

(1976 $10,146,000, Pos. 341, July 1 - September 30, 1976 $ 2,687,000, Pos. 341)

Narrative Description of Program

The Assistant Secretary for Administration and Management directs this activity which is responsible for planning, managing, and evaluating administrative support operations and for providing centralized administrative services for all Departmental Agencies. The full range of administrative support services for all Departmental activities includes financial, personnel, organization, administrative management, equal employment opportunity, and economical administration of Departmental programs. These functions are carried out by the Office Directors, (Authorizing Legislation; 37 STAT 736, 738)

In 1976, the Office of Equal Employment Opportunity's plans are geared to strengthening program support and increasing scope and availability of EEO services to all Departmental employees. Technical assistance on upward mobility programs for minorities and women will be increased. Expansion of EEO investigators will be negotiated with Agency and Regional heads. The Spanish-Speaking Program will develop a "skills bank" for recruitment and placement of Hispanic candidates for employment. The Federal Women's Program will remain viable in promoting the occupational status of women and two all-employee meetings are planned at Departmental level to increase employee awareness of EEO progress and plans.

The Directorate of Tersonnel Management plans to once again conduct a summer employment program for approximately 750 students and young people including the disadvantaged. The College Relations Program will continue to insure that fresh new graduates will be recruited into the Department. The Worker-Trainee Program will be used to advance employees in limited positions and provide employment for the less experience applicant. Emphasis will be placed on advancing administrative, clerical and technical (ACT) employees throughout the Department (Grades GS-1 through 11). The automated personnel system will expand the use of remote input/output and implement a full manpower planning system.

The Directorate of Management and Operations Review will conduct Departmentwide training on the Departmental Management Systems (DMS) to achieve greater understanding and utilization. The Directorate will continue with he obiective to review all compone its of the Department every four years.

The Comptroller will begin Inter-departmental work on grant procedures, develop a sub-contracting program including reports and reviews of major contractors' minority sub-contracting programs; complete the Regional Accounting Project by providing a full range of budget, accounting, and analysis services to Regional managers; and assist the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation by providing accounting guidance in handling assets and pension payments for terminated pension plans. Provisions of the Congressional Budget and Impoundment Act of 1974 will be implemented.

The Directorate of Audit and Investigations will conduct audits of 50% of the Comprehensive Employment and Training Act (CETA) prime sponsors in accordance with the bi-annual audit requirement in the CETA legislation. Efforts will be mafe to use State anlit agencies in meeting this requirement. Major national audits of management procedures and operations will be conducted. Increased attention will be directed to secure greater management use of audit findings. In the Cost Determination program, priority attention will be directed to concluding indirect cost agreements with CETA prime sponsors.

The Directorate of Administrative Programs and Services plans to decentralize responsibility for the property management system to the regions as well as complete the move to the new DOL building. Plans will be made to develop the Library into a multi-media resource center which will include microfilm, microfiche, cassettes, motion picture films, recordings and other information media pertinent to programs of the Department.

Objectives for Transitional Period (July 1 - September 30, 1976): A continuation of services provided in FY 1976 is forecasted during the transitional period. The demand for supportive services will be slightly increasing as the Department assumes new responsibilities imposed by legislation.