DOL and FAR Council Propose Guidance and Regulations to Implement Executive Order

Earlier today, the United States Department of Labor (DOL) issued proposed guidance and regulations to implement the Fair Pay and Safe Workplaces Executive Order, E.O. 13673, which was signed by President Obama on July 31, 2014. The Order requires prospective federal contractors to disclose certain labor law violations and will give agencies more guidance on how to consider labor law violations when awarding federal contracts. Per the DOL’s press release: “most federal contractors will only have to attest that they comply with laws providing basic workplace protections; for those contractors that report violations, designated Labor Compliance Advisors will coordinate with the relevant enforcement agency experts to help them come into compliance.” Read the DOL’s news release in its entirety. The proposed guidance, issued by the DOL, can be read here and the regulations, issued by the Federal Acquisition Regulatory (FAR) Council,   here. Both the proposed guidance and proposed regulations will be published in tomorrow’s Federal Register, followed by a 60-day public comment period.