Labor Certification Process for the Permanent Employment of Aliens; Researchers Employed by Colleges and Universities, College and University Operated Federally Funded Research and Development Centers, and Certain Federal Agencies

The Employment and Training Administration (ETA) of the Department of Labor (Department or DOL) is publishing a final rule relating to labor certification for permanent employment of immigrant aliens in the United States. The amendments change the way prevailing wage determinations are made for researchers employed by colleges and universities, Federally Funded Research and Development Centers (FFRDC's) operated by colleges and universities, and Federal research agencies. The final rule also changes the way prevailing wages are determined for colleges and universities, FFRDC's operated by colleges and universities, and Federal research agencies filing H-1B labor condition applications on behalf of researchers, since the regulations governing prevailing wage determinations for the permanent program are followed by State Employment Security Agencies (SESA's or State agencies) in determining prevailing wages for the H-1B program.