The Birmingham News: Alabama Gov. Robert Bentley this afternoon announced a new program to move unemployed workers into jobs being vacated by immigrants after Alabama passed the toughest immigration law in the country.
"We have to make sure people are aware of the job opportunities," Bentley said at press conference at a Montgomery unemployment office.
The new program, called "Work Alabama" is designed to enhance Alabama's existing services for the unemployed by putting an emphasis on connecting job seekers with temporary jobs.
The state has a added a link on its website: www.joblink.alabama.gov for farmers to request temporary agriculture workers and for jobseekers to indicate if they are interested in such work.
The state has also added a toll-free number to assist employers in obtaining immigrant workers legally through a federal visa program: 855-WORK-ALABAMA.
Bentley disputed the assertions by some farmers that most Americans do not want to do the demanding work in agricultural fields.
"There are people today who want these jobs," he said.
"I think it is almost insulting to say people in Alabama won't do a hard day's work for a decent day's pay."
Bentley said he has also assembled a team including representatives of the agriculture and construction industries to make recommendations on how to fill manual labor jobs in the long term.
Tom Surtees, director of the Alabama Department of Industrial Relations, stressed the importance for jobseekers and employers to use the state's existing job placement services.
"We have to make sure people are aware of the job opportunities," Bentley said at press conference at a Montgomery unemployment office.
The new program, called "Work Alabama" is designed to enhance Alabama's existing services for the unemployed by putting an emphasis on connecting job seekers with temporary jobs.
The state has a added a link on its website: www.joblink.alabama.gov for farmers to request temporary agriculture workers and for jobseekers to indicate if they are interested in such work.
The state has also added a toll-free number to assist employers in obtaining immigrant workers legally through a federal visa program: 855-WORK-ALABAMA.
Bentley disputed the assertions by some farmers that most Americans do not want to do the demanding work in agricultural fields.
"There are people today who want these jobs," he said.
"I think it is almost insulting to say people in Alabama won't do a hard day's work for a decent day's pay."
Bentley said he has also assembled a team including representatives of the agriculture and construction industries to make recommendations on how to fill manual labor jobs in the long term.
Tom Surtees, director of the Alabama Department of Industrial Relations, stressed the importance for jobseekers and employers to use the state's existing job placement services.
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