The Excluded Workers Fund has transformed the lives of hundreds of thousands of New Yorkers. The fund has enabled working families to get back on their feet after a year of pain and loss, and has provided a path forward for the many thousands of immigrant workers who build and improve New York every day
. This timely program was vitally important to the state of New York in 2021 and its expansion and continued funding is equally necessary this year. Offering a lifeline to workers cut off from state and federal financial assistance by the pandemic, the program served as recognition of their work in frontline positions and help and advocacy, as well as decades of contributions to the unemployment insurance system. . Immigrant and self-employed workers are an overlooked but vital source of recharging local economies, and as New York communities rebuild to contain and overcome the economic impact of COVID-19, workers will continue to be a crucial force in driving local economies.
The potential for economic growth in New York will depend on the strong integration of safeguards for workers. Catholic Charities is encouraged by New York State’s commitment to the Excluded Workers Fund. But more needs to be done, as many were left behind due to application deadlines and issues. The Excluded Workers Fund Coalition, made up of several prominent immigration advocacy groups, including Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of New York, are working together to highlight remaining needs and ensure that the most vulnerable workers are not left behind in immigration detention. shadows and can access safe and reliable support.
The “No More Excluded” campaign (also known in English as Excluded No More) offers a guide to continue supporting the most vulnerable workers in our state so that they can access compensation for unemployment, no matter how they make a living or where they come from. This directly affects workers who continue to serve as first and second line responders during the pandemic, such as freelancers, cash earners, and other freelancers who keep the state running.
The program proposes to expand New York’s unemployment insurance (UI) coverage to provide all of them with access to a safety net that guarantees excluded workers can receive support when faced with unexpected tragedies, such as loss of income due to poor health, abuse, or the impact of a global economic crisis.
The Coalition also proposes to reopen the Excluded Workers Fund to ensure that all workers who were eligible for the fund can receive it, since the fund was open for nine weeks before the closing of the requests. At the time, geographic barriers and pending policies prevented thousands of eligible workers from applying, especially in upstate New York and rural areas of the state. New York has always led the way in achieving justice and dignity. for the workers. The Excluded Workers Fund itself has already inspired similar campaigns across the country. By ensuring that all workers have access to financial guarantees, our communities will be stronger, more resilient, and better prepared for future public health and economic crises.
C. Mario Russell, Attorney, Director of Immigrant and Refugee Services at Catholic Charities