LEXINGTON ó Workers who lost their jobs at Furniture Makers Supply Co. and Lexington Abrasive Belts have been certified as eligible to receive special assistance in finding new jobs or entering training programs, the N.C. Employment Security Commission said Wednesday.
Commission Chairman Harry E. Payne Jr. made the announcement following notification from the U.S. Dept. of Labor concerning approval of Trade Adjustment Assistance petitions filed by company officials.
The Federal Trade Act provides special benefits under the program to workers who are laid off or have hours reduced because their employer was adversely affected by increased imports from other countries.
Affected workers may be eligible for benefits, including the cost of up to two years in a training program (tuition, books and fees); up to 130 weeks of weekly unemployment allowances and income assistance while attending training; job search and relocation allowances; and the Health Coverage Tax Credit.
The average cost of an agency-approved two-year training program in North Carolina is currently $5,000.
Workers who are 50 or older may be eligible for the Alternative Trade Adjustment Assistance program, which is an alternative for older workers who are not interested in training.
Workers who lost their jobs from Furniture Makers Supply Company or Lexington Abrasive Belts since Feb. 21, 2007, may be eligible to receive assistance. To determine eligibility for the benefits, affected workers should contact the nearest Employment Security Commission office.