The Department of Labor's Veterans' Employment and Training Service (VETS) published a Final Rule in the Federal Register adopting a new VETS-100 form. What does the final rule mean to you or your HR Department? That depends on the size and age of your government contracts. But, in a nutshell (and for most contractors), you will need to revise your data collection form for veterans and begin collecting data under the new veteran categories by June 18, 2008. Your first reporting of these data will be September 30, 2009. Maly clients will find a revised sample form on our website.

The details: The Final Rule implements amendments to the reporting requirements of the Vietnam Era Veterans' Readjustment Assistance Act (VEVRAA) made necessary by the Jobs for Veterans Act (JVA). Effective on June 18, 2008, the Final Rule will be codified in a new 41 CFR part 61-300. So that is the day a contractor begins collecting data under the new categories.

Employers with federal contracts worth $100,000 or more entered into on or after December 1, 2003 will be required to file a new form VETS-100A. Employers working on federal contracts of $25,000 or more that predate December 2003 must continue to file the old VETS-100. Federal contractors covered by the JVA are to collect and maintain the data prescribed by the new part 61-300 regulations beginning in the calendar year 2008, and report the data in the VETS-100A Report to be filed by September 30, 2009.

If you have any questions or need further information on reporting requirements, please give us a call.