The federal Department of Labor (DOL) has issued a proposed rule revising the equal employment opportunity regulatory framework for the National Apprenticeship Act, the Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) reports in the association’s Newsline publication.
“Current regulations prohibit discrimination in registered apprenticeship programs on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, and sex,” the ABC report says. “The proposed rule updates the equal opportunity standards to include age (40 or older), genetic information, sexual orientation and disability among the protected base that cannot be discriminated against. It requires sponsors to take affirmative action to provide equal opportunity in the registered apprenticeship programs.”
Written comments on the proposed rule are due Jan. 5, 2016. ABC is currently in the process of reviewing the proposal and would welcome any feedback on how it will impact chapter and member’s registered apprenticeship programs. Please contact Lauren Williams, at (202) 595-1815 or at lewilliams@abc.org with any questions or feedback on the proposal.
For more information on the proposal, please visit http://www.doleta.gov/oa/eeo/.