LANSING — House Democrats unveiled a plan today to strengthen unemployment protections and restore benefits, allowing Michiganders to focus on finding a new job without worrying about how they’re going to pay bills or put food on the table. The package of bills focuses on improving the Unemployment Insurance Agency (UIA) system so it can handle a forecasted recession, ensuring accountability for employers not paying their UIA tax, and making whole those falsely accused of fraud. In response, state Rep. Leslie Love (D-Detroit), whose House Bill 4897 would require the UIA to provide delinquent employer and corrective action reports to the Legislature annually, issued the following statement:
“The UIA is designed to offer security to workers who have lost their job through no fault of their own, but it only works if everyone does their part. When employers neglect or refuse to pay their fair share that hurts all of us. We have to hold bad actors accountable, and requiring the UIA to provide regular reports to the Legislature about delinquent employers and the steps that are being taken to bring them in line will ensure the system is strong enough to help any family facing temporary unemployment weather the storm and get back to work.”