diff --git a/.github/workflows/publish_layer.yml b/.github/workflows/publish_layer.yml
index 35ae1fd731b..3597f0d8253 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/publish_layer.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/publish_layer.yml
@@ -16,9 +16,11 @@ on:
     types:
       - completed
 
+
 jobs:
   build-layer:
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    if: ${{ (github.event.workflow_run.conclusion == 'success') || (github.event_name == 'workflow_dispatch') }}
     defaults:
       run:
         working-directory: ./layer
@@ -29,8 +31,6 @@ jobs:
         uses: actions/setup-node@v3
         with:
           node-version: "16.12"
-      - name: Install poetry
-        run: pipx install poetry
       - name: Setup python
         uses: actions/setup-python@v4
         with:
@@ -39,8 +39,8 @@ jobs:
       - name: Set release notes tag
         run: |
           RELEASE_INPUT=${{ inputs.latest_published_version }}
-          GITHUB_EVENT_RELEASE_TAG=${{ github.event.release.tag_name }}
-          RELEASE_TAG_VERSION=${GITHUB_EVENT_RELEASE_TAG:-$RELEASE_INPUT}
+          LATEST_TAG=$(git describe --tag --abbrev=0)
+          RELEASE_TAG_VERSION=${RELEASE_INPUT:-$LATEST_TAG}
           echo "RELEASE_TAG_VERSION=${RELEASE_TAG_VERSION:1}" >> $GITHUB_ENV
       - name: install cdk and deps
         run: |
diff --git a/.github/workflows/reusable_deploy_layer_stack.yml b/.github/workflows/reusable_deploy_layer_stack.yml
index 74d2dc19767..45c97860438 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/reusable_deploy_layer_stack.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/reusable_deploy_layer_stack.yml
@@ -26,28 +26,30 @@ jobs:
     strategy:
       fail-fast: false
       matrix:
-        region: ["af-south-1"]
-    #          "eu-central-1",
-    #          "us-east-1",
-    #          "us-east-2",
-    #          "us-west-1",
-    #          "us-west-2",
-    #          "ap-east-1",
-    #          "ap-south-1",
-    #          "ap-northeast-1",
-    #          "ap-northeast-2",
-    #          "ap-southeast-1",
-    #          "ap-southeast-2",
-    #          "ca-central-1",
-    #          "eu-west-1",
-    #          "eu-west-2",
-    #          "eu-west-3",
-    #          "eu-south-1",
-    #          "eu-north-1",
-    #          "sa-east-1",
-    #          "ap-southeast-3",
-    #          "ap-northeast-3",
-    #          "me-south-1"
+        region: [
+          "af-south-1",
+          #          "eu-central-1",
+          #          "us-east-1",
+          #          "us-east-2",
+          #          "us-west-1",
+          #          "us-west-2",
+          #          "ap-east-1",
+          #          "ap-south-1",
+          #          "ap-northeast-1",
+          #          "ap-northeast-2",
+          #          "ap-southeast-1",
+          #          "ap-southeast-2",
+          #          "ca-central-1",
+          #          "eu-west-1",
+          #          "eu-west-2",
+          #          "eu-west-3",
+          #          "eu-south-1",
+          #          "eu-north-1",
+          #          "sa-east-1",
+          #          "ap-southeast-3",
+          #          "ap-northeast-3",
+          #          "me-south-1"
+        ]
     steps:
       - name: checkout
         uses: actions/checkout@v3
diff --git a/layer/layer/layer_stack.py b/layer/layer/layer_stack.py
index 8b32de9c206..15f3d3fdcb8 100644
--- a/layer/layer/layer_stack.py
+++ b/layer/layer/layer_stack.py
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-from aws_cdk import Stack
+from aws_cdk import RemovalPolicy, Stack
 from aws_cdk.aws_ssm import StringParameter
 from cdk_lambda_powertools_python_layer import LambdaPowertoolsLayer
 from constructs import Construct
@@ -15,5 +15,6 @@ def __init__(
         )
 
         layer.add_permission("PublicLayerAccess", account_id="*")
+        layer.apply_removal_policy(RemovalPolicy.RETAIN)
 
         StringParameter(self, "VersionArn", parameter_name=ssm_paramter_layer_arn, string_value=layer.layer_version_arn)