The Department organized U.S. participation in 19 meetings of the ILO and developed about 100 position papers for guidance of the government delegations; and served on the delegations. The Department prepared or coordinated 51 ILO reports.

The Department participated in eighteen meetings of the OECD.

The Department inaugurated a new monthly memorandum, circulated to 450 officers of the Department, that summarizes foreign experience relevant to the policy and program development problems faced by the Department.

The Department continued to play an active role in support of the technical assistance and cultural exchange activities of AID, the USIA, and the Organization of American States (OAS).

A

In 1975, the Trade Act of 1974 was signed by the President. The Act gives DOL increased responsibilities in the broad areas of international trade negotiations, trade adjustment assistance certifications and benefit delivery, and trade-related economic and statistical research. supplemental appropriation was provided in FY 1975 for 71 additional positions which were required to fulfill the Departments responsibilities under the legislation.

Preparations for the MTN accelerated with the passage of the Trade Act. The Department is participating in the extensive pre-negotiation procedures specified in the Act to provide a basis for decisions on the U.S. negotiating position. Since passage of the Act, meetings of interagency task forces dealing with substantive areas of the negotiations have averaged 10 a week.

Also, in connection with the MTN, the Department has begun preparations to fulfill its responsibility under the Act for establishing and maintaining a consultation mechanism with organized labor. This will involve an overall Labor Policy Committee of high-level union representatives and a series of technical committees concerned with separate industrial sectors.

As of March 11, 1975, the Department had issued 11 certifications of eligibility for Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) under the Trade Expansion Act, covering approximately 7,500 workers. Four worker petitions were filed directly with the Department of Labor on the basis of a 1970 determination by the President of import injury to workers in the sheet glass industry. These workers were not certified as eligible to apply for adjustment assistance because the investigations indicated that increased imports were not the major factor in causing the workers' unemployment.

Considerable staff time has been devoted to development of an improved delivery system for TAA benefits and necessary planning for handling the increased responsibilities which have been delegated to the Department under the new Trade Act. It is estimated that approximately 125 worker petitions will be filed with the Department covering approximately 25,000 workers during the last quarter of this Fiscal Year.

Work related to the textile program will also continue at a fast pace. So far in this fiscal year, bilateral textile agreements have been negotiated with 10 countries. During the balance of the Fiscal Year, negotiations will be initiated with 15 other countries. There have been two meetings of the GATT Textile Committee in Geneva to review the implementation of the multifiber arrangement. Two additional meetings will be held during this Fiscal Year.

The Department secured agreement to free the Board of the Foreign Service to concentrate on advising the Secretary of State on personnel policy and management of the Foreign Service by transferring the Board's employee-management relations functions to another body. The Department's Foreign Service information support, labor training, assignment, and evaluation workload remains at the 1974 level.

In the ILO, the over-all level of activity is similar to that in 1974. Key personnel changes supported by the Department may move that organization in the direction of more efficiency - a basic Presidential foreign policy objective for all UN organizations and lead to closer working relations between the ILO and the U.S. Francis Blanchard of France, a former Deputy Director-General, was elected Director-General and an American was appointed as a Deputy Director-General in charge of the whole range of administrative, personnel, financial, and program planning functions.

In the OECD, U.S. initiatives were accepted in the program of work of the Manpower and Social Affairs Committee. Initiatives included the economic role of women, social security reform, income maintenance, employment security and social indicators.

The

Work began on U.S. participation in the OAS-sponsored Fifth InterAmerican Labor Ministers' Conference, scheduled for the Fall of 1975. Department will also complete, in collaboration with the Ministry of Labor of Japan, a joint study of the economic role of women initiated at the Ninth Joint Cabinet meetings in Tokyo in 1974.

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 collaboration 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 1976, the foreign economic policy 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. Bureau 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 Tariff Commission) and the Executive Branch. In these 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 shout 600 worker petitions will be filed, and as many as for justment 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 Some of these general review and implementation of the agreements. 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 backstopping system designed to improve A related the performance of labor and economic officers in the field. question for consideration will be organization of periodic conferences for Foreign Service Officers to stimulate improved awareness of the Department's changing needs.

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.

Mandatory changes consist of $32,000 for net additional cost of pay increase effective October 13, 1974; $21,000 for net additional cost of within-grade increase in FY 1975 and FY 1976; $8,000 for one extra day of pay in FY 1976; $5,000 for increased cost of administrative and program support services, and $1,397,000 for net additional cost of finare. ew positions received in ry 1975 for the Trade Act of 1974.

Activity 4. ADMINISTRATION AND MANAGEMENT

(1975 $10,382,000, Pos. 346; 1976 $10,746,000, 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 Departmental activities includes financial, personnel, organization, and administrative management, equal employment opportunity, and economical administration of Departmental programs. These functions are carried out by the Office Directors. (Authorizing Legislation: 37 STAT 73, 738)

In 1974, a Spanish Speaking Program was successfully established in the Department and partially staffed. The Office of Equal Employment Opportunity also conducted a skills survey to determine the potential for advancement among nonprofessionals. A computerized system to collect and maintain data on the representation of minorities and women by occupational services and Agency/Region was established. A two day mandatory supervisory orientation in EEO was developed

in 1974.

The Directorate of Personnel Management developed a nationwide schedule for Agency and Regional visits to colleges and universities for recruitment and placement of qualified graduates (focusing on minorities and women). A workertrainee program was developed to provide upward mobility for persons in "dead-end" job assignments and allow for recruitment and training of minimally-qualified applicants.

An annual affirmative action plan was developed for hiring, training, and advancing the handicapped under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. A 16 hour supervisory training program on labor-management relations was implemented.

The Directorate of Management and Operations Review: established a tracking system for Presidential Objectives on an intensive basis to provide continuous high-level focus on accomplishments, problem areas, and needed actions by management to achieve the objectives.

Also,

The Comptroller converted contracts to grants in all programs that provide financial assistance to state and local governments and completed the redesign and development of the Department's Financial Management Reporting System. the Comptroller developed and implemented accounting procedures for the Black Lung Benefit Program.

The Directorate of Audit and Investigations was restructured to include responsibility for integrity investigations where improper activities were alleged, as well as responsibility for audit. In the audit program, revisions were made to emphasize andit of management procedures and operations in addition to financial audits.

The DOL Library, along with 26 other Federal Libraries, began a shared automated cataloging program under the sponsorship of the Federal Library Committee.

In 1975, the Office of Equal Employment Opportunity aided in the establishment of a full-time EEO officer for each region along with a full-time training officer to coordinate upward mobility training for minorities and women. Criteria for conducting EEO performance evaluations for supervisors has been established as a requirement throughout the Department. A full-time Director for the Spanish Speaking Program was appointed. Technical assistance in development of upwardmobility programs will be provided in FY 1975.

The Directorate of Cersonnel Management designed a "ersonnel management evalu tion system to assess effectiveness of Departmental practices. This was designated a Secretarial Objective and a full-time manager was assigned. Other projects planned are automation of service control files, retirement computations, training records, master personnel file and the personnel management evaluation package. A grievance control system was implemented based on Executive Order 11491. training agreement facilitating movement between various occupations was developed and approved.

A

The Directorate of Management and Operations Revier expanded the Department'e Management by Objectives program by adding Secretarial and Agency Objectives. This office will monitor progress of 45 objectives (9 Presidential, 17 Secretarial, and 20 Agency.) Manpower Utilization Surveys will be made throughout the year with deficiencies surfaced and tracked to assure proper corrective action.

The Comptroller is participating in Inter-Departmental work on Governmentwide requirements for grants to non-profit organizations which will result in a Federal Management Circular. Also, the Comptroller will develop procedures for informing minority business of opportunities under the Comprehensive Employment and Training Act as well as DOL administered laws and programs that can affect a business. The Comptroller has established a pilot Regional Accounting function in Atlanta which will result in further system development for all regions. Guidance in developing accounting procedures to start up the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation ill also be provided.

The Directorate of Audit and Investigations developed audit guides and procedures for the Comprehensive Employment and Training Act program and will continue a regular audit program to audit 50% of the State Employment Service Agencies as well as OSHA grantees. Outside audit assistance (CPA's) will be used to maintain a reasonable audit program standard for closeout of Manpower Training Service Contracts.

The Directorate of Administrative Programs and Services had to plan for additional permanent space for the newly enacted Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation and related Agency functions. Also in FY 1975, a computerized carpool-matching study is being conducted for the move to the new DOL building as well as to save energy. Physical consolidation of the DOL into 4 major locations will be achieved by the move to the new building. Increased security measures were taken to red ice loss of government property.

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 woma will be increased. Expansion of EEO investigators will be negotiated with Agency/Regional heads since CSC no longer fills this role. 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 Personnel Management plans to orce 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 loss experienced applicant. Emphasis will be placed on advancing administrative, clerical and technical (ACT) employees throughout the Departmen. (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 "eview vill conduct Departmentide training on t'e Departrental Management System (DMS) to achieve greater understanding and utilization. The Directorate will continue with the objective to revie all components of the Department every four years.