HONOLULU – Hawaii will once again require people receiving unemployment benefits to look for work as a COVID-19 traveler testing program and increasing vaccinations fuel a recovery in the tourism industry, Governor David Ige said Tuesday.
Those who register as unemployed are required to report at least three steps when submitting their weekly application on June 6th, which they take in the job search from May 30th to 5th relationships.
Those steps could include filling out applications, interviews, and registering on the HireNetHawaii.com job website, she said.
Hawaii suspended job search obligations during the pandemic.
Hawaii’s unemployment rate was 9% in March, the highest in the country and above the national average of 6%. But the rate has improved from its high of 23.8% in April 2020.
“At that point, the public health actions we have taken and the success of our vaccine program have allowed us to get our economy started again. With our pre-trip testing program, we’re seeing more and more people travel to Hawaii. And as tourism has increased, more and more employers are looking for people to fill, ”Ige said at a press conference announcing the new policy.
The governor said he would keep other pandemic-era unemployment insurance benefits, including a weekly supplement to the federal government’s weekly benefit of $ 300. Ige said he believes this extra payment will help unemployed residents pay rent and other expenses, which will help the economy.
“As you know, the cost of living in Hawaii is higher than in any other jurisdiction. And we have heard from many in our community who continue to struggle to find work and are still unemployed, ”said Ige.
The state will consider continuing that payment when the economy recovers and more people return to work, he said. Hawaii will continue to pay unemployment insurance benefits to gig workers and independent contractors, the governor regrets.
According to an analysis by the Associated Press, twenty-two states, from Texas and Georgia to Ohio and Iowa, are planning to block federal payments of $ 300 a week from June. All have Republican governors and legislatures.
Ige is a democrat. The Hawaii House and the Senate are also controlled by Democrats.
Approximately 106,000 people in Hawaii are required to seek work under the reinstated rule. Gig workers and contractors, as well as union members, don’t have to, said Perreira-Eustaquio.
Those unable to return to work because of having to care for their children during the pandemic will be exempted when they receive pandemic unemployment insurance benefits, Perreira-Eustaquio said. The regular benefit program of the unemployment insurance does not include an exemption from childcare.
She said the department will enforce the job search requirement by performing spot checks that applicants have actually made their three job search contacts as advertised. The department will also conduct internal audits to see if applicants have been looking for work.
Finally, she said employers can report online at www.hawaiiunemploymentinfo.com if a candidate does not show up for an interview or does not accept a “suitable” job offer.
Comments are closed.