NCJ Number
63772
Date Published
1979
Length
39 pages
Annotation
THIS GENERAL ACCOUNTING OFFICE (GAO) REPORT EVALUATES PROGRAMS FUNDED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR FOR THE NATIONAL FARM WORKERS SERVICE CENTER.
Abstract
AS PART OF AN OVERALL FEDERAL EFFORT TO STIMULATE THE ECONOMY, THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR PROVIDED EMPLOYMENT-RELATED ASSISTANCE TO MIGRANT AND OTHER SEASONAL FARMWORKERS THROUGH THE COMPREHENSIVE EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING ACT (CETA). THE NATIONAL FARM WORKERS SERVICE CENTER, 1 OF 43 ORGANIZATIONS APPLYING FOR FARMWORKER ECONOMIC STIMULUS PROGRAM FUNDS, WAS AWARDED $800,000 IN CETA FUNDS, ALTHOUGH LABOR POORLY MANAGED THE AWARDS, CONTRIBUTING SIGNIFICANTLY TO DELAYS IN GRANT NEGOTIATIONS AND CONFUSION ABOUT PROGRAMS TO BE FUNDED. IN ADDITION, THE CENTER WAS AWARDED A CONTRACT FOR $120,925 TO FOSTER AGRICULTURAL APPRENTICESHIP BY STUDYING JOBS AND TRAINING NEEDS IN THE AGRICULTURAL INDUSTRY AND BY DEVELOPING NEW JOB CLASSIFICATIONS AND A TRAINING PROGRAM FOR FARMWORKERS. THE CENTER WAS AWARDED THE CONTRACT WITHOUT COMPETITION FROM OTHER ORGANIZATIONS. LABOR SHOULD DISCONTINUE THE PRACTICE OF ROUTINELY AWARDING PROCUREMENT CONTRACTS ON A SOLE SOURCE BASIS AS THERE IS NO EVIDENCE FOR ITS EFFECTIVENESS. GAO ALSO FOUND THAT THE CENTER LACKED EXPERIENCE IN EMPLOYMENT TRAINING, THAT IT DID NOT ESTABLISH THE NECESSITY FOR A RESIDENTIAL ENGLISH LANGUAGE TRAINING PROGRAM, AND THAT LABOR CANNOT ASSURE NONPARTICIPATION OF ILLEGAL ALIENS IN FARMWORKER PROGRAMS. LABOR INTENDS TO VISIT THE CENTER SIX TIMES DURING THE 18-MONTH GRANT PERIOD AND PROVIDED TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO THE CENTER.