For Immediate Release
November 19, 2021
Contact: Stacy Johnston
Acting Public Information Officer
505.250.3926
NMDWS agency budget request to Legislative Finance Committee focuses
on Healthy Workplaces Act and reemployment services
(Albuquerque, NM) – New Mexico Department of Workforce Solutions’ (NMDWS) Acting Cabinet Secretary Ricky Serna presented the FY23 budget request to the Legislative Finance Committee yesterday, November 18, 2021. Totaling $122,262,700, the request focuses on funding House Bill 20, Healthy Workplaces Act, collaborations between state agencies on economic reopening strategies to increase the labor force participation rate including youth and veterans.
NMDWS, Labor Relations Division (LRD) has been authorized to coordinate implementation and enforcement of the Healthy Workplaces Act. The department is requesting $900K in legislative funding to procure additional investigators, administrative support, legal, technical support and systems analyst personnel. LRD has drafted proposed regulations for implementing the Act and will have a public comment hearing on December 15, 2021 at 1:00PM.
In the next several months, LRD will be undertaking multiple tasks to achieve the successful execution for the Act’s effective date of July 1, 2022. LRD will develop and provide information on the notice, posting and information requirements for employers and employees covered under the Act. LRD is in the process of developing an educational presentation and other materials to assist employers with compliance. Educational programs may be delivered in person and through virtual web-based applications.
In addition to facilitating new labor laws, additional funding requests will be made to continue coordinated cross agency collaboration to overcome barriers that prevent workers from re-joining the workforce. DWS will combines those efforts with direct hiring events across the state. Since July 1, 2021 there have been 426 employer hiring events statewide focused on immediate job placement.
This past July a new website and helpline was launched designed to increase access to gainful employment opportunities and career education, https://ready.nm.gov/. For some, the pandemic has created the need to change their career path, Ready NM creates the connection between job seekers, training providers, and available work opportunities. Representatives are available at 1-800-303-3599, Monday-Friday, 8am-4pm to assist individuals in reaching their employment, training, and education goals.
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