The RMI Labor Division handed out the first Covid-19 unemployment relief checks to Marshallese on Monday this week at the Marshall Islands Resort. The funding for the Covid-19 unemployment aid comes through the US CARES Act, adopted earlier this year when the Covid-19 pandemic first hit the US.
There were 26 initial recipients, including MIMRA fisheries observers, Pan Pacific Foods workers and United Airlines employees. More are to follow. The observers said they received checks ranging from $1,000 to $1,400 for the 25-week period dating from February 15 to August 2.
The handover happened at MIR poolside with Ministers Casten Nemra, Kessai Note, and Alfred Alfred, Jr., and Attorney General Richard Hickson.
MIMRA observers showed up wearing matching MIMRA observer t-shirts, demonstrating the correct method for collecting their money.