The U. S. Department of Labor has articulated that 3000 workers of 17 states are eligible to apply for the
Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA). The 17 states are Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Maine, Michigan, New Mexico, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and Virginia.
The U. S. Department of Labor Secretary, Hilda L. Solis has assured that they would be committed to work towards the betterment of the company workers through the Trade Adjustment Assistance program. The U. S. Department of Labor has set up training for the workers to attain appropriate skills so as to fetch them good jobs in their local areas.
Each state will ensure to get connected with its workers and explain to them the procedure of application for the Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) certification. The respective certified workers would be eligible for many benefits and allowances.
The Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) also has provisions for allowances for the employees for training, Health Coverage Tax Credit (HCTC), relocation allowances and
trade readjustment allowances. The relocation allowance would cover 90% of the justifiable expenses of the workers who work outside their commuting areas.
This Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) program is applicable to workers of all ages whereas the Re-employment Trade Adjustment Assistance (RTAA) is exclusively for employees who are 50 years and above. This
Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) has enrolled around 21 companies for their certification.
If the employee receives an annual wage less than $55,000 in a new job and also if it is less than what the employee received in his previous job , the employee would be paid 50% of the difference between the old and new wage. After a period of two years, the employee is also eligible to claim an amount of up to $12,000. The RTAA recipients are also entitled for the retraining program and the Health Coverage Tax Credit (HCTC).
