Laid off workers who lost job to overseas competition eligible for federal funds
The Plain Dealer – More than 1,200 workers in Northeast Ohio who have lost jobs or had hours reduced because of overseas competition will be eligible for federal aid, such as individual payments to help them with job searches, Sherrod Brown, Democrat of Ohio, said Wednesday.
Workers at Hugo Boss in Brooklyn, Stein Inc.'s in Lorain, Lordstown Seating Systems in Mahoning and Avon Products, Inc. in Hamilton County are eligible for Trade Adjustment Assistance benefits. Benefits from the program include funds for job retraining. Workers also may be eligible for individual job search allowances up to $1,250 to cover the costs of looking for work if they cannot find employment within 50 miles of their homes.
The U.S. Department of Labor, which administers this funding for displaced workers, said it can't estimate how much the program will cost because it doesn't know how many workers will take advantage of training services.
"Losing a job can devastate families and affect whole communities," Brown said in a press release. "These funds will help ensure that these displaced workers have the financial support and training opportunities to get a fresh start."
