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The Governments of the United States of America and Spain released the following statement on the occasion of the Central America Working Group. At the fourth U.S.-Spain Working Group on Central America, held in Washington, D.C., on December 5, the United States and Spain shared their priorities and concerns with regards to the region.  The main issues discussed were the efforts to strengthen democracy and the rule of law, address gender-based violence, protect human rights, advance regional security, promote inclusive development and economic opportunity, combat transnational crime, and coordinate regional responses to migration and displacement.  Both parties underscored the importance…

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“Core states” will receive federal support to increase competitive integrated employmentWASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced that 13 states and the District of Columbia will participate as “core states” in fiscal year 2025 in its National Expansion of Employment Opportunities Network initiative, enabling government agencies in these states to receive capacity-building support, policy development assistance and ongoing mentoring to increase competitive integrated employment for people with disabilities.The recently selected states are Colorado, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Iowa, Kentucky, Missouri, Montana, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oregon and Tennessee, in addition to the District of Columbia.The selections will complement existing partnerships between the department’s Office…

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U.S. Special Envoy for Sudan Tom Perriello will travel to Doha, Nairobi, London, and Nouakchott starting December 6 to continue diplomatic efforts to scale up humanitarian assistance to the people of Sudan, deter atrocities and weapon flows, and coordinate efforts to end the conflict in Sudan. Building on recent progress that expanded humanitarian access into and within Sudan, the Special Envoy will meet with key government officials and representatives of the African Union, the Arab League, the Intergovernmental Authority on Development, the United Nations, non-governmental organizations, and Sudanese civil society. In his engagements, the Special Envoy will emphasize the urgent…

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JACKSONVILLE, FL – In one week, U.S. Department of Labor safety inspectors found two contractors working in Jacksonville and Daytona Beach willfully exposing employees to one of the construction industry’s deadliest hazards: trench and excavation collapses and cave-ins. On May 28, 2024, inspectors with the department’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration witnessed workers employed by Masci General Contractor Inc. installing a sewer line in a trench 6-feet-deep and 40-feet-long near International Speedway and Atlantic Avenue in Daytona Beach. OSHA inspectors initiated the removal of the employees from the trench and subsequently, the agency issued a citation to the employer for willfully endangering workers by failing…

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Today, the United States and the Kingdom of Bahrain announced their joint decision to invite the United Kingdom to accede to the Comprehensive Security Integration and Prosperity Agreement (C-SIPA), representing a major step forward in fostering broader regional security integration, bolstering mutual deterrence against external threats, and expanding cooperation in the fields of commerce, science, and technology with like-minded states in support of peace and prosperity in the Middle East. This announcement advances the vision of C-SIPA to further cooperation among a broader grouping of countries that share mutual interests and a common vision with respect to deterrence, diplomacy, security,…

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WASHINGTON – Acting Secretary of Labor Julie Su issued the following statement on the November 2024 Employment Situation report:“Today, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that the American economy added 227,000 jobs in November, confirming what we know to be true: that this is a strong, stable economy and workers are benefiting. After accounting for 56,000 upward revisions to September and October data, the three-month average of payroll employment gains stands at 173,000, indicating a healthy labor market with low unemployment, delivering opportunities for millions of workers.“Wage growth continues to outpace inflation, with nominal wages increasing by 0.4 percent in…

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The United States stands with the Romanian people as they face an unprecedented situation regarding the integrity of their elections. Romanians must have confidence that their elections reflect the democratic will of the Romanian people and are free of foreign malign influence aimed at undermining the fairness of their elections. The integrity of Romania’s elections is paramount for Romanians’ hard-earned democracy. It is the choice of the Romanian people whom they elect. No other country or foreign actor has that right. We note the Romanian Constitutional Court’s decision today with respect to Romania’s presidential elections. The United States reaffirms our…

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Lawsuit alleges USPS, individual managers violated federal whistleblower protectionsCHARLEROI, PA – The U.S. Department of Labor has filed suit against the U.S. Postal Service and two of its managers for wrongly terminating a contracted employee who raised safety concerns about loading dock equipment at the Charleroi Post Office.Filed in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania, the action follows an investigation by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration that determined the U.S. Postal Service violated the whistleblower provisions of the Occupational Safety and Health Act by firing a worker who refused to unload bulk mail because of a broken…

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On behalf of the United States of America, I extend heartfelt congratulations to the people of Finland on the occasion of your 107th anniversary of independence. Finland is a valued and enduring partner, and our relationship is grounded in shared principles of democracy, liberty, and the rule of law. It is thanks to these shared values that we continue to deepen our cooperation to meet today’s global challenges, both in bilateral and multilateral forums. In November we deepened our cooperation by signing a Memorandum of Understanding for the Icebreaker Collaboration Effort (ICE Pact), together with Canada. This initiative highlights our…

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Total of 95 significant and substantial violations, 12 unwarrantable failures foundWASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor announced today that its Mine Safety and Health Administration completed impact inspections in October 2024 at 15 mines in Alabama, Arkansas, Colorado, Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Missouri, Nevada, New York, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and Wyoming and issued 286 violations.  The agency conducts impact inspections at mines that merit increased agency attention and enforcement because of poor compliance history; previous accidents, injuries and illnesses; and other compliance concerns. Of the 286 violations MSHA identified during October 2024 impact inspections, 95 were evaluated by inspectors as significant and…

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