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ETA News Release: [03/16/2004]
Contact Name: Lorette
Post
Phone Number: (202) 693-3984
U.S. Labor Secretary Elaine L. Chao Announces National
Hispanic Worker Initiative
Hotel and Restaurant Union Gets Nearly $1.9
Million to Train for Hospitality Jobs
LAS VEGAS, Nev.—U.S.
Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao today announced a
National Hispanic Worker Initiative and awarded the first grant of
almost $1.9 million to the Hotel Employees and Restaurant Employees (H.E.R.E)
International Union. H.E.R.E will use the grant to train Hispanic and other
immigrant workers for hospitality industry jobs in Las Vegas and Atlantic City,
N.J.
“The Department’s National Hispanic Worker Initiative
will help our country’s Hispanic workers prepare for and find good paying
jobs in high growth sectors,” said Chao. “Today’s grant of $1.9
million to H.E.R.E. will help more than 2,000 Hispanic workers in the
hospitality industry to receive needed training in language and occupational
skills. President George W. Bush wants to ensure that Hispanic workers will
have the tools they need to mainstream into and succeed in the 21st
Century Workforce and economy.”
H.E.R.E will partner with 24 Las Vegas hospitality industry employers
through the Culinary Training Academy and Nevada Partners Inc., a
community-based training provider, to give 2,000 immigrant workers English
language instruction. On-site English classes will also be conducted for 450
workers already employed at 10 major area hotels.
In Atlantic City, H.E.R.E will work with 13 employers and the Atlantic
Cape Community College to help 45 Hispanic workers with limited English skills
become journey-level cooks.
The H.E.R.E grant is part of the Administration’s strategy to
address challenges facing the Hispanic population, including a large high
school dropout rate, language barriers and lack of basic skills, all of which
limit job opportunities. H.E.R.E’s efforts will demonstrate successful
programs to address similar employment barriers faced by other immigrant groups
around the country.
The Hispanic Workers Initiative is part of a larger effort to link the
resources of the $15 billion public workforce system to jobs in demand.
Currently, the Labor Department’s Employment and Training Administration
is funding unique, industry-driven demonstration projects through the
President’s High Growth Job Training Initiative. These include Hispanic
workers in their overall service strategy. The department will continue to
explore more innovative projects throughout the year that address the
identified workforce challenges of Hispanic Americans.
The Administration plans to announce another grant in connection with
the Hispanic Worker Initiative later this week in Miami, Fla.
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