TRENTON, NJ – New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy has declared an end to the COVID-19 pandemic and lifted all COVID-19 public health mandates, but the New Jersey Department of Labor Offices remain closed.
This comes as many in New Jersey are still reeling from a broken and antiquated department computer system that continues to delay benefits to many across the state.
Today, Senator Kristin Corrado (R-40) called for New Jersey Labor Commissioner Robert Asaro-Angelo to resign following his recent appearance before the Senate Labor Committee and two years after his department’s offices closed to the public:
“Every attempt to work with the Department of Labor to help desperate people access their unemployment benefits has been a total nightmare. They don’t answer calls, they don’t respond to emails, and they don’t provide any helpful information,” Corrado said. ““After two years, it still hasn’t gotten better. The online and phone-based claims systems still don’t work for many people, and unemployed workers still can’t walk into an unemployment office to get in-person help when everything else has failed.
“I was extremely thankful that both Republicans and Democrats on the Labor Committee forcefully voiced our shared concerns directly to the commissioner on behalf of the entire Legislature and the millions of people we represent who deserve better.
“Unfortunately, Commissioner Asaro-Angelo refused to accept responsibility and offered nothing but excuses for continuing unemployment system failures. What he should have offered was his resignation. Like everything with the Department of Labor, we’re waiting.”