DOL Launching App Development Contest
The contest coincides with the 75th anniversary of the Fair Labor Standards Act.
The Department of Labor needs a hand in making enforcement information more available to the public. The DOL's Wage and Hour Division has launched the Fair Labor Data Challenge calling the public to create a smartphone app that will not only make this data available, but also include "consumer ratings websites, geopositioning sites, and other relevant data sets, such as those available from state health boards," according to a DOL statement.
The contest is launched in conjunction with the 75th anniversary of Fair Labor Standards Act. The winner will receive a trip to Washington, D.C., for the award ceremony.
"The app we would like to see developed would work with existing social media and would allow consumers to see if an establishment that they want to frequent has been in compliance with federal labor laws," said Laura Fortman, the division's principal deputy administrator. "The app could also prove a useful tool for job seekers and for companies that are deciding which firms they may want to do business with. It could also help individuals get in touch with the Labor Department if they have any questions. As we mark 75 years of the job protections afforded by the FLSA, we are looking forward to using new technologies to encourage compliance with the law in the 21st century."
Contestants have until Oct. 11 to submit the conceptual apps.The winner will be announced in early November.
More information about the contest can be found at challenge.gov.