AGC Joins Business Groups Questioning Administration’s Hiring Goals

On May 23, 2012, AGC joined 10 other national business associations in a letter to the U.S. Secretary of Labor urging her to reconsider a series of new affirmative action mandates it plans to impose on contractors working on federal projects.  A press release from AGC today highlighted the lack of data from the government justifying the costly and burdensome rules. The proposed rules AGC is concerned with come from the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) at the U.S. Department of Labor. OFCCP has proposed to make very dramatic changes to its rules requiring affirmative action for veterans and individuals with disabilities.  AGC has asked OFCCP to exempt the construction industry from any final changes to these two rules. For more information on the individuals with disabilities rule, click here. For more information on the veterans rule, click here. The two rules are very similar to each other, their administrative and financial burdens are nearly equal, and both are expected to become final later this year. AGC will continue to work with Congress and these federal agencies on minimizing the detrimental impact these rules would have on the industry.  AGC members can send a letter highlighting concerns about the burdensome requirements to their elected officials through AGC's Legislative Action Center. For more information, please contact Jim Young at (703) 837-5319 or youngj@agc.org.