New Rule on Veterans' Hiring Is Proposed The Labor Department has proposed new affirmative action rules for hiring veterans on government contracts. The proposed rule, issued by Labor’s Office of Federal Contract Compliance, would implement the 2002 Jobs for Veterans Act. The law requires federal contractors to take affirmative action to hire and promote covered veterans. Among the proposed changes: •Veterans’ affirmative action provisions would apply on any contract or subcontract worth $100,000 or more that was awarded after Dec. 1, 2003. The previous rule applied to contracts above $25,000. Affirmative action plans are required from every government contractor that has 50 employees and a contract of $100,000 or more. •The affirmative action provisions would apply to all veterans with service-connected disabilities, but not to Vietnam-era veterans unless they qualify under some other provision. All veterans who served in wartime are covered, as are those who participated in a military operation for which an Armed Forces service medal was awarded. •The provisions would cover recently separated veterans for three years after they are discharged. The old rule covered them for one year. • Openings that do not have to be listed include executive and senior management positions, positions that are to be filled from within, and positions lasting three days or fewer. The proposed rule is RIN number 1215-AB46. Comments are due March 21.