New Mexico waives unemployment requirement for federal workers

LAS CRUCES — In an effort to help federal workers who have been impacted by the ongoing partial government shutdown, the state has issued an emergency order to waive the work search requirements on unemployment benefits for those workers for the next 180 days.

The state Department of Workforce Solutions has had more than 450 workers apply for benefits, according to a news release issued Wednesday evening. Affected federal agencies in New Mexico include Homeland Security, U.S. Department of the Interior, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Employees deemed to be essential are working without pay. Non-essential employees are on furlough. None can be paid until a resolution is reached to end the shutdown, and many are restricted from seeking other employment.

“This administration appreciates and values federal workers so much because we know how important they are to our communities,” said Workforce Solutions Secretary Designate Bill McCamley. “They are going through a tough time right now and we’ll do everything in our power to get them through it as smoothly as possible.”

Read more: https://www.alamogordonews.com/story/news/local/new-mexico/2019/01/11/new-mexico-unemployment-requirement-federal-jobs-government-shutdown-trump/2546797002/