U.S. DEPT of Labor Releases Final Rules Updating VEVRAA & Section 503

The following email was sent to Congressional Staff today:

The U.S. Department of Labor today announced two final rules to improve hiring and employment of veterans and for people with disabilities. One rule updates the Vietnam Era Veterans’ Readjustment Assistance Act of 1974; the other updates Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973.

The VEVRAA rule provides contractors with a quantifiable metric to measure success in recruiting and employing veterans by requiring that contractors annually adopt a workforce benchmark of either 8 percent or their own benchmark based on the best available data. It strengthens accountability and record-keeping requirements, enabling contractors to assess the effectiveness of their recruitment efforts. It also clarifies job listing and subcontract requirements to facilitate compliance.

The Section 503 rule introduces a hiring goal for federal contractors and subcontractors that 7 percent of each job group in their workforce be qualified individuals with disabilities. The rule also details specific actions contractors must take in the areas of recruitment, training, record keeping and policy dissemination–similar to those that have long been required to promote workplace equality for women and minorities.

The rules will become effective 180 days after their publication in the Federal Register.

OFCCP enforces Executive Order 11246, Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Vietnam Era Veterans' Readjustment Assistance Act of 1974. These three laws require those who do business with the federal government, both contractors and subcontractors, to follow the fair and reasonable standard that they not discriminate in employment on the basis of sex, race, color, religion, national origin, disability or status as a protected veteran. For general information, call OFCCP's toll-free helpline at 800-397-6251.

If you have any questions, feel free to call the Office of Congressional & Intergovernmental Affairs at 202-693-4600.

Nikki McKinney
Chief of Staff
Office of Congressional & Intergovernmental Affairs
U.S. Department of Labor

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