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Dept. Of Labor To Reinstate Work Search Requirement To Obtain Unemployment Benefits

Maine Public

The Maine Department of Labor announced Friday that it is reinstating work search requirements for some individuals receiving employment benefits.

During an online legislative briefing, Labor Department Commissioner Laura Fortman said individuals who are permanently separated from their employers must engage in work search activities beginning Sunday, August 9. She says this is being done in response to Maine's relatively low rates of COVID-19 transmission and the reopening of businesses in the state.

“People are opening gradually and putting appropriate precautions in place, but there is reopening, and we all want to see that continue.”

Fortman says that in response to the pandemic work search activities have been expanded and include a number of virtual options.

Individuals who are still connected to an employer, including those who are self-employed, are not required to actively search for work until 30 days after the state's Civil Emergency Ends.

Ed is a Maine native who spent his early childhood in Livermore Falls before moving to Farmington. He graduated from Mount Blue High School in 1970 before going to the University of Maine at Orono where he received his BA in speech in 1974 with a broadcast concentration. It was during that time that he first became involved with public broadcasting. He served as an intern for what was then called MPBN TV and also did volunteer work for MPBN Radio.