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Archived News Release--Caution:
information may be out of date.
For more information call: 202/219-6871
The U.S. Department of Labor is providing an initial emergency grant of
$500,000 so workers can begin cleanup and recovery efforts in Puerto Rico
following Hurricane Hortense, Secretary of Labor Robert B. Reich announced
today.
"The people of Puerto Rico need our assistance and support as they begin
recovering from the devastating effects of Hurricane Hortense, President
Clinton said. "We need to do all we can to help those citizens whose jobs have
been lost and whose lives have been disrupted because of the devastation. This
grant will allow workers to begin clearing debris so power can be restored to
the island."
About 75 people are expected to begin work under the project which is to
be operated by the Puerto Rican Council for Occupational Development and Human
Resources. Once power is restored, additional aid may be provided to continue
the recovery effort.
"Not only will the funds help workers who lost their jobs to Hurricane
Fran, it will also allow local governments to hire workers to help restore and
repair public property damaged by the flood," said Secretary Reich.
The award is authorized under emergency provisions of Title III of the
Job Training Partnership Act (JTPA) to fund special temporary jobs that would
benefit the public and help dislocated workers resume regular employment. The
program will cover workers throughout the Island. Participants will work for up
to six months with public or private non-profit agencies to help with clean-up,
repair and restoration efforts.
The grant, authorized under the Title III of the Job Training
Partnership Act, will provide a number of services including assessment,
temporary jobs, and supportive services such as day care assistance,
transportation assistance, and emergency health care.
The dislocated worker program is a comprehensive retraining approach to
assist workers who have been, or are about to be, aid off for reasons such as
technological change, foreign competition or government actions. Generally such
workers are eligible if they are unlikely to return to their previous industry
or occupation.
Other citizens who are out of work due to the hurricane may be eligible
for regular unemployment insurance benefits or for special disaster
unemployment assistance which covers those who are not otherwise eligible for
benefits; examples include self-employed workers, farmers and independent
contractors.
For information about unemployment insurance or disaster unemployment
assistance, residents should contact their local Employment Service or Job
Service office.
Archived News Release--Caution:
information may be out of date.
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