The U.S. Department of Labor has clarified employees working reduced hours because of the pandemic are eligible for federal unemployment assistance payments.
In January, Guam Department of Labor Director David Dell'Isola announced employees working reduced hours at businesses that remain open were no longer qualified for Pandemic Unemployment Assistance due to federal guidelines. The assistance program last year paid benefits to unemployed residents and also those who remained employed but worked fewer hours due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Gov. Lou Leon Guerrero on Feb. 1 wrote a letter to the U.S. Department of Labor, asking it to allow workers with reduced hours to qualify for assistance payments.