Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, an otherwise eligible individual shall not be denied unemployment compensation benefits for any week because he is in training approved under Section 236(a)(1) of the Trade Act of 1974, nor shall such individual be denied benefits because of leaving work to enter such training, provided the work left is not suitable work, or because of the application to any such week in training of provisions in this chapter or any applicable federal unemployment compensation law relating to availability for work, active search for work, or refusal to accept work. For purposes of this section, “suitable work” means, with respect to an individual, work of a substantially equal or higher skill level than the individual’s past adversely affected employment, as defined for purposes of the Trade Act of 1974, and wages for such work at not less than eighty per cent of the individual’s average weekly wage as determined for purposes of the Trade Act of 1974.