On Friday, the department will hold a public hearing at 10 a.m. in Trenton to discuss the proposal further.
View full size
Gov. Chris Christie.
Assemblywoman Bonnie Watson Coleman, a Democrat whose 15th District covers parts of Hunterdon County, said in a statement Wednesday that the proposal doesn't consider that many New Jerseyans might not have access to the Internet.
"Here is yet another example of how out of touch this administration is with the realities facing impoverished residents in our urban communities," Watson Coleman said. "To those who are financially stable, requiring unemployed residents to search for jobs may seem like a no brainer. But not everyone can afford to buy a computer and not everyone can afford to pay for Internet access."
Mandating it as such would further the gap between rich and poor in the state, Watson Coleman said.
"Punishing residents for not having the same financial stability that the governor enjoys is callous," she said. "I hope the administration sees the light and dumps this proposal."
The proposal from the state Department of Labor and Workforce Development would require that prior to collecting weekly unemployment benefits, the state's jobless must first perform regular searches for work on the state's jobs site, Jobs4Jersey.com, where they must also register.
Residents would then be required to report their findings to officials by phone, Internet, mail, or in-person.
"Reporting and participating in work-search-related activities as directed, including registering for work, is the very least that a claimant can do to demonstrate that he or she is actively seeking work," department officials wrote on the New Jersey Register. "Consequently, using the example cited earlier, if a claimant fails to simply register with Jobs4Jersey, then he or she is not actively seeking work and should not collect benefits."
Assemblyman John DiMaio, R-Hunterdon/Warren, said he understands that not everyone might have Internet access but argues that's exactly what libraries are for.
"Libraries are there to give folks access who can't afford to have their own access," he said.
DiMaio said mandating the use of Jobs4Jersey.com is important as it provides a valuable tool for job seekers.
"A lot of people don't know where to go to look for that," he said.
The state labor department will hold a public hearing 10 a.m. Friday in Trenton to further discuss the proposal.