The people who would benefit most from federalization of CNMI immigration are the Chamorros and the Carolinians, according to Deputy Assistant Secretary for Insular Affairs David B. Cohen.
In his opinion, Cohen said the interest of the locals is the same as the interest of the guest workers.
“The Chamorros and Carolinians have the most to benefit from federalization and that empowering the guest workers will help empower the Chamorros and Carolinians,” Cohen told Saipan Tribune during his consultation meeting with some guest workers who have pending labor cases Friday at Micro Beach's pavilion.
Currently, he pointed out, the fact that guest workers are vulnerable drives down wages in the CNMI and that's why the wages are too low for locals to want to take jobs in the private sector.
Cohen said if the guest workers are given more power and provided the chance to seek other opportunities elsewhere it would drive up wages for the locals and also leave more jobs open for the locals.
With respect to an update on federalization measures, the deputy assistant secretary for insular affairs said both the House and the Senate committees are still working on the legislations.
“We expect that the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources will be reporting at out the committee soon. We know that that House Subcommittee on Insular Affairs is also working on the bill,” he said.
Cohen said it is possible that the lawmakers may consider changes.
“We don't know. It's in their hands right now. So let's see what happens,” he said.
Status has quo has failed
In an interview Friday night, Cohen explained that the status quo has failed to provide the locals with an adequate standard of living. The CNMI's easy access to foreign labor has created a system where wages are too low to entice local to take private sector jobs.
He added that, because guest workers have few options, they are willing to work for the lowest possible wages, hence driving wage levels down. If guest workers were given more options, they would no longer exert such downward pressure on wages.
“Perhaps then, there would be more opportunities in the private sector that will be attractive for the Chamorro and Carolinians,” he said.
Cohen also noted that the NMI immigration bill currently before the U.S. Congress include provisions granting job opportunities for locals before foreign workers can be brought in. It also requires the Interior Department to provide technical assistance to train locals for private sector jobs.
“Some fear that many guest workers would leave, but if this were to occur, it could have the effect of bidding up the wages in the local economy and providing more opportunities for the Chamorro and Carolinians,” he said.
Consultation meeting
On the consultation meeting with guest workers with pending labor cases, Cohen said it is important for the Interior Department to provide as much information that what they have.
“People have a lot of anxiety because their lives are hanging in [the] balance. So it is important to tell them what we know and what we don't know,” he said.
Cohen said unfortunately at this point there is a lot that the Interior Department doesn't know but it is also important for guest workers to understand that nothing is certain and that they shouldn't make plans on the assumption that something is going to happen soon.
“I hope that all of these resolve soon. But sometimes the process takes a while to work,” he said.
Cohen was in Guam last week for the conference on business opportunities on the islands when he decided to come to Saipan upon invitation by Taotao Tano Group president's Gregorio Cruz.
He said the meeting went very well although a lot of people came very late.
Cohen stayed answering questions for three hours.
“People had many, many questions and it was an opportunity to get out good information about the bill. For all the talk that has been going around about federalization most people don't know what's in the bill. Most of people don't know what the process is. And I don't blame them because the bill is very complicated and the process is also complicated,” he said.
Cohen said he tried to take time in explaining to the people what's in the bill, what is the administration position is and what is the process is.
He said he is hoping that the people will have a better basis to form their own opinion.
“What I discussed with Taotao Tano is very similar with I discussed with members of the guest worker communities and that is everybody has a lot of anxiety at this time so it is important to not take out your anxiety on your neighbors,” he said.
“Everybody is just trying to look out for their own families and their own futures and we are all in the same boat. We can have respect for differences of opinions but it is important to maintain the level of respect,” he added. (With Ferdie de la Torre)
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