PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — A bill in the Pennsylvania State House would reinstate the requirement that someone collecting unemployment needs to be actively looking for a job.
House Labor and Industry Committee Chairman Jim Cox, a Republican from Berks County, said the legislation doesn’t add anything, and that it simply lifts a waiver that was put in place during the pandemic.
“This is already the law," said Cox. "We’re just reminding them, we’re just saying the legislature as a body wants those work search requirements put back in place.”
Related
Westmoreland County Republican Eric Nelson said there shouldn’t be a need for a bill. He believes the waiver should be lifted, based on many businesses saying they’ve had openings they’ve been unable to fill for months.
“The incentive not to work is so great right now, that many workers are not engaged and that’s why this bill is so important.”
Delaware County Democratic House Representative David Delloso said if businesses are having trouble finding workers, maybe the problem isn’t external.
“That they’re paying substandard wages or undermarket on benefits," said Delloso.
Related
Supporters said if some of those jobs are not filled soon, they may be gone, moved to other states, automated or those businesses would simply shut down.
Critics claim it would affect people like nursery school teachers who will be out of work, and need assistance until their schools re-open in the fall.
The bill was approved by the Labor and Industry Committee, 15-10 on party lines. It moves on to consideration by the full House in coming days.