US Labor Department to Strengthen Disability Regulations

WASHINGTON – The US Labor Department is working to strengthen regulations requiring federal contractors to take affirmative action with respect to individuals with disabilities. The Federal Contract Compliance Programs announced that it is seeking input from the public on ways to ensure that more people with disabilities are employed and given opportunities to advance in employment under Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973.

The Section 503 regulations have required equal employment opportunity and affirmative action since the 1970s, yet the rate of disabled people who are unemployed or not in the labor force remain significantly higher than those without disabilities. Current regulations require employers with a federal contract of more than $10,000 take affirmative action to employ individuals with disabilities. Employers with a contract over $50,000 and with more than 50 employees are required to prepare and maintain a written affirmative action plan to employ and advance individuals with disabilities.

Topics open for public comment include:

• What employment practices have been effective in recruiting, hiring, advancing and retaining qualified individuals with disabilities.
• What data are available that could be used to establish hiring goals and conduct utilization analyses of individuals with disabilities.
• How linkage agreements between federal contractors and organizations that focus on the employment of qualified individuals with disabilities can be strengthened to increase effectiveness.

Comments will be accepted until Sept. 21. To submit a comment, visit the Federal eRulemaking Portal at www.regulations.gov.