Global Employment Law - Global News & Commentary on Labor and Employment Issues Worldwide

Internal Revenue Service Extends Deadline for Amending Qualified Retirement Plans to Comply with the Pension Protection Act of 2006
The IRS has granted a one-year extension for amending certain defined benefit and contribution plans that are subject to minimum funding requirements to comply with the additional funding mandates provided by the Pension Protection Act of 2006. Read the full post here (December 17)

House Passes Defense Bill Containing Arbitration, Unemployment and COBRA Provisions
The House of Representatives approved a defense spending bill that extends jobless benefits as well as prevents most defense contractors and subcontractors from forcing their employees or independent contractors to sign, as a condition of employment, agreements to arbitrate certain employment-related claims. Read the full post here (December 16)

Comprehensive Immigration Bill Introduced
Rep. Ortiz (D-Tex.) and Rep. Gutierrez (D-Ill.) have introduced the Comprehensive Immigration Reform for America's Security and Prosperity (CIR ASAP) Act of 2009, an immigration overhaul bill they hope will receive serious consideration early next year. Read the full post here (December 15)

Senate Passes Appropriations Bill
By a vote of 57-35, the Senate approved the nearly $447 billion omnibus appropriations bill. Read the full post here (December 14)

Senate Committee Approves Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) Nominees
The Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions has approved the nominations of Jacqueline Berrien to head the EEOC, and Victoria Lipnic and Chai Feldblum to be EEOC Members. Read the full post here (December 11)

House-Approved Omnibus Spending Bill Would Significantly Boost Funding for the Department of Labor, National Labor Relations Board and Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
The House of Representatives has approved a massive consolidated spending bill that would provide increased funding for the DOL, EEOC, and NLRB, among other agencies for fiscal year 2010. Read the full post here (December 11)

Final Rule Revokes Employee Notification Requirement Regarding Union Dues and Fees
A final rule slated for publication in the 12/10/09 Federal Register will revoke the requirement that federal contractors inform employees of their rights regarding the payment of union dues or fees. Read the full post here (December 9)

New Nurses Union Boasts 150,000 Members
The new National Nurses United (NNU) combines the members and financial resources from the California Nurses Association, the United American Nurses, and the Massachusetts Nurses Union. Read the full post here (December 9)

Department of Homeland Security Releases Semiannual Regulatory Agenda
Rules addressing the H-1B lottery process and I-9 forms are among the Agency's regulatory priorities. Read the full post here (December 8)

National Mediation Board Holds Open Meeting Regarding New Voting Rule
The National Mediation Board's notice of proposed rule making seeking to change the 75-year old process by which union votes are counted in union representation elections under the Railway Labor Act is moving full-steam ahead. Read the full post here (December 8)

Supreme Court Releases Opinion in Union Pacific
The Court declined to answer whether a final decision by the National Railroad Adjustment Board (NRAB) could be set aside for an alleged due process violation, instead affirming the Seventh Circuit's granting of relief to the union challenging the NRAB's dismissal of its arbitration petition on statutory grounds. Read the full post here (December 8)

Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act Regulations Imminent, According to EEOC Semiannual Regulatory Agenda
The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) has identified three proposed and four final rules that will dominate the agency's regulatory activities for the coming year, according to its Semiannual Regulatory Agenda. Read the full post here (December 8)

Department of Labor Releases Semiannual Regulatory Agenda
The Department of Labor has released its semiannual regulatory agenda, which lists all of the regulations the agency expects to have under active consideration for promulgation, proposal, or review during the coming one-year period. Read the full post here (December 7)