Proposed Collection; Comment Request

DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Bureau of Labor Statistics

Proposed Collection; Comment Request

ACTION: Notice.

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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. 3506(c)(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 Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) is soliciting comments

concerning the proposed reinstatement of the ``Contingent Work

Supplement to the Current Population Survey.''

A copy of the proposed information collection request (ICR) can be

obtained by contacting the individual listed below in the ADDRESSES

section of this notice.

DATES: Written comments must be submitted to the office listed in the

ADDRESSES section below on or before October 15, 1996.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics is particularly interested in

comments which:

Evaluate whether the proposed collection of information is

necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency,

including whether the information will have practical utility;

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;

Enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the

information to be collected; and

Minimize the burden of the collection of information on

those who are to respond, including through the use of appropriate

automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection

techniques or other forms of information technology, e.g., permitting

electronic submissions of responses.

ADDRESSES: Send comments to Karin G. Kurz, BLS Clearance Officer,

Division of Management Systems, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Room 3255,

2 Massachusetts Avenue NE., Washington, DC 20212. Ms. Kurz can be

reached on 202-606-7628 (this is not a toll free number).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

The CPS has been the principal source of the official Government

statistics on employment and unemployment for over 50 years. Collection

of labor force data through the CPS is necessary to meet the

requirements in Title 29, United States Code, Sections 1 through 9.

Since the mid-1980s, there has been a growing belief among labor market

researchers that employers require greater flexibility in their use of

labor. As a result, many workers may find themselves in ``contingent

jobs'' which are structured to last for only a limited duration or in

alternative employment arrangements such as independent contracting,

on-call work, contracting work, and working through temporary help

firms. It is feared that workers with such employment may have little

job security, low pay, and no fringe benefits. While anecdotal

information about contingent and alternative employment abounds,

accurate measurement of the extent and nature of

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the phenomenon is lacking. This CPS supplement would provide objective

information about ``contingent work.''

II. Current Actions

The contingent work supplement provides information on the number

and characteristics of workers in contingent jobs, that is, jobs which

are structured to last only a limited period of time. The survey also

provides information about workers in several alternative employment

arrangements, including those working as independent contractors and

on-call workers, as well as those working through temporary help

agencies or contract companies. The supplement was first conducted in

February 1995. While the initial collection provided a wealth of

information on contingent and alternative employment arrangements,

being a new survey, it could not provide any information on the trend

in such employment. A key purpose of the February 1997 collection is to

provide a second point of comparison. This will enable the BLS and

other researchers to examine whether contingent and alternative

employment arrangements are becoming more common.

Type of Review: Reinstatement, with change, of a previously

approved collection for which approval has expired.

Agency: Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Title: Contingent Work Supplement.

OMB Number: 1220-0153.

Affected Public: Individuals.

Total Respondents: 60,000 individuals.

Frequency: One-time only.

Total Responses: 60,000 individuals.

Average Time Per Response: 8 minutes.

Estimated Total Burden Hours: 8,000 hours.

Total Burden Cost (capital/startup): $0.

Total Burden Cost (operating/maintenance): $0.

Comments submitted in response to this notice will be summarized

and/or included in the request for Office of Management and Budget

approval of the information collection request; they also will become a

matter of public record.

Signed at Washington, D.C., this 12th day of August, 1996.

Peter T. Spolarich,

Chief, Division of Management Systems, Bureau of Labor Statistics.

[FR Doc. 96-20926 Filed 8-15-96; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4510-24-M