The Labor Department proposed a new rule Thursday calling for contractors and subcontractors to raise their disability hiring, with a goal to make up 7 percent of their workforce.
Federal contractors and subcontractors are already under obligations for equal opportunity employment as part of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 under Section 503.
The Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs‘ proposal looks to expand requirements already in place so to make contractors also consider areas of recruitment, training, policy dissemination and record keeping, according to the announcement. The rule will have new requirements for job posting as well.
The OFCCP will provide clarification to the rules already in place as well as define its expectations by releasing specific guidelines for law compliance.
“For nearly 40 years, the rules have said that contractors simply need to make a ‘good faith’ effort to recruit and hire people with disabilities,” said OFCCP Director Patricia Shiu. “Our proposal would define specific goals, require real accountability and provide the clearest possible guidance for employers seeking to comply with the law.”
The proposal is to be posted on the Federal Register on Friday for public comment.
