Federal Register: February 22, 1999 (Volume 64, Number 34)NoticesPage 8630-8631From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

DOCID:fr22fe99-107

DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Office of the Assistant Secretary for Policy; Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection, Comment Request; the National Agricultural Workers Survey Questionnaire Form

AGENCY: Office of the Assistant Secretary for Policy (OASP), Department of Labor.

ACTION: Notice.

SUMMARY: The Department of Labor, as part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, conducts a preclearance consultation program to provide the general public and Federal agencies with an opportunity to comment on proposed and/or continuing collections of information in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA95) 44 U.S.C. 3506c)(2)(A)). This program helps to ensure that requested data can be provided in the desired format, reporting burden (time and financial resources) is minimized, collection instruments are clearly understood, and the impact of collection requirements on respondents can be properly assessed.

Currently the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Policy is soliciting comments concerning two supplements to be used by the National Agricultural Workers Survey (NAWS). This survey has been conducted under the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) clearance since October, 1988. It is at this time conducting approximately 4,500 interviews per year. The focus has been on demographic, employment and health data. The NAWS information collection request will consist of two supplements. The first supplement will be administered to children farmworkers less than 19 years of age. The second and complementary supplement will be administered to farmworkers who are parents of U.S. based children. The purpose of these supplements is to gather in depth data on the educational barriers and labor market conditions faced by children farmworkers. This data collection was mandated by Congress.

The sampling frame and estimation procedures will not be altered by the supplements. However, adaptations may need to be made to enhance estimations of children farmworkers.

The Department of Labor is particularly interested in comments which:

<bullet> Evaluate whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper functioning of government agencies charged with protecting the well being of the farmworker population, including whether the information will have practical utility;

<bullet> Evaluate the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of the proposed collection of information, including the validity of the methodology and assumptions used;

<bullet> Enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and

<bullet> Minimize the burden of the collection of information on those who are to respond.

DATES: Written comment must be submitted by April 23, 1999.

ADDRESSES: Comments are to be submitted to the U.S. Department of Labor, Room S-2312, (200 Constitution Ave. NW, Washington, D.C. 20210, telephone (202) 219-6197. Written comments limited to 10 pages or fewer may also be transmitted by facsimile to (202) 219-9216.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Richard Mines, Economist and Program Officer for the National Agricultural Workers Survey, Office of the Assistant Secretary of Labor, U.S. Department of Labor, Room S-2312, 200 Constitution Ave., NW, Washington, D.C. 20210. Telephone: (202) 219-6197. Copies of the referenced information collection request are available for inspection and copying and will be mailed to persons who request copies by telephoning Richard Mines at (202) 219-6197. For more information about the NAWS, consult the NAWS home page at: http:// www.dol.gov/dol/asp/public/programs/agworker/naws.htm.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

The NAWS began surveying farm workers in 1988, it has collected information from over 22,000 workers. The survey samples all crop farm workers in three cycles each year in order to capture the seasonality of the work. The NAWS locates and samples workers at their work sites, avoiding the well-publicized undercount of this difficult-to-find population. During the initial contact, arrangements are made to interview the respondent at home or at another convenient location.

[Page 8631]What Information Does the NAWS Collect

<bullet> Household and family composition. The NAWS interview contains a family grid that asks basic demographic information for all household members, and records information about each person's education level and migration patterns.

<bullet> Additional Demographics. The NAWS collects a more comprehensive demographic profile of the farm worker himself including language ability, contacts in non-agricultural jobs, and parental involvement in agriculture.

<bullet> Employment History. The NAWS compiles a full year of information on the employment and geographic movement of the farm worker. This history covers the occupation, including task and crop if employed in agriculture, type of non-agricultural work if employed off the farm, periods of unemployment and periods abroad, and the worker's location for every week of the year preceding the interview.

<bullet> Wages, Benefits and Working Conditions. The NAWS collects information on payment method (piece or hourly) and wages, on health insurance, on workers compensation and unemployment insurance, and on other benefits and working conditions.

<bullet> Health, Safety and Housing. The NAWS gathers information on medical history, use of medical services, participation in pesticide training, and on the worker's housing arrangements.

<bullet> Income and Assets, Social Services and Legal Status. The NAWS questionnaire has a series of questions on personal and family income, assets held in the United States and abroad, use of social services, and legal or immigration status.

II. Current Actions

This action requests OMB approval of the paperwork requirements for adding two supplements to the NAWS survey operation.

Type of Review: Revision of a currently approved collection.

Agency: Office of the Assistant Secretary for Policy.

Title: Child Labor Supplements to the National Agricultural Workers Survey.

OMB Number: 1225-0044.

Affected Public: Farmworkers and farm employers.

Total Respondents: 6000 respondents (4,500 farmworkers receiving a full interview and 1,500 employers who will be briefly interviewed to ascertain the location of the potential worker respondents).

Frequency: Annually (The survey is administered in three 10-12 week cycles each year, beginning in October, February and May.

Total Responses: In addition to the original 4,500 responses, a supplement will be administered to approximately 1,500 parents and another supplement will be implemented with approximately 350 children. These respondents will be receiving the supplement in addition to the original survey. The supplement will be given to approximately 1,850 people.

Average Time per Response: The supplements will each take approximately 30 minutes.

Estimated Total Burden Hours: The added burden time due to the supplements will be approximately 925 hours including both the children and parents. This will be in addition to the pre-existing burden of 6,000 hours per year.

Total Annualized capital/startup costs: 0.

Total initial annual costs: (operating/maintaining systems or purchasing services): 0.

Comments submitted in response to this notice will be summarized and included in the request for Office of Management and Budget approval of the information collection request. The comments will become a matter of public record.

Dated: February 16, 1999.

Authorized Official in the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Policy. Richard Mines, Economist.

FR Doc. 99-4244Filed2-19-99; 8:45 amBILLING CODE 4510-23-M