OFCCP Publishes Final Rule on Veterans Effective September 7, 2007

On August 8, 2007, the Department of Labor, Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) published its final rule implementing the 2002 Jobs for Veterans Act amendments to the affirmative action provisions of the Vietnam Era Veterans’ Readjustment Assistance Act of 1974 (VEVRAA). These laws require federal contractors not to discriminate against and to take affirmative action in favor of military veterans. Remarkably, it has taken the agency five years to publish regulations implementing these amendments. The 2002 law amended VEVRAA by raising the threshold of covered federal contracts under the Veterans laws from $25,000 to $100,000, modifying the definition of covered veterans, and revising requirements on where covered contractors must list job openings. The final rule generally reflects the OFCCP’s previously published (January 2006) proposed rule. The text of the final rule is at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20071800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2007/E7-15385.htm. OFCCP’s VEVRAA regulations are at 41 C.F.R.part 60-250 et seq. and the new JVA regulations are at 41 C.F.R. part 60-300 et seq.