ALBUQUERQUE — The New Mexico Department of Workforce Solutions has placed the Healthy Workplaces Act and reemployment services in a position of priority as it constructs its Fiscal Year 2023 budget request to the Legislative Finance Committee.
Acting Cabinet Secretary Ricky Serna’s Nov. 18 request, totaling a little over $122, 000,000, focuses on collaborations between state agencies on increasing the participation of the labor force, including youth and veterans, and economic reopening.
NMDWS, Labor Relations Division has been authorized to coordinate implementation and enforcement of House Bill 20, 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 Dec. 15.
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 combine those efforts with direct hiring events across the state. Since July 1, there have been 426 hiring events statewide focused on immediate job placement.
This past July a new website and helpline designed to increase access to gainful employment opportunities and career education were launched. The website address is https://ready.nm.gov/.
For some, the pandemic has created a need to change career paths. Ready NM creates the connection between job seekers, training providers, and available work opportunities.
Representatives are available at (800) 303-3599, Monday-Friday, 8 am-4 pm to assist individuals in reaching their employment, training, and education goals.
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