Where have all the local workers gone?

A few months ago a friend made a survey of the workforce at 10 of the leading hotels in Saipan. While the figures may not be totally accurate, they do show a major fact that about 95 percebt of all maintenance people in the hotel industry are guest workers. This does not mean that the hotels are doing anything wrong. It simply shows that a local labor force does not exist. Why doesn’t it exist?

In the survey we found 218 maintenance workers. Of this total only 10 employees were local—a mere 4.6 percent! How many electricians, how many carpenters, how many plumbers, and other skilled workers do we have in the local work force that are out of work?

Yes, I know the instant reply: “Who wants to work for the minimum wage if I am skilled?” If that is true, than the government is doing a great disservice to the local workforce by allowing this to happen. They have saddled the curse of the minimum wage around our necks and will not loosen its strangling hold. As a result few local people want to work at any job for this minimum wage. Why can’t we realize that a man or woman should be paid what he is worth? When will this change?

It must change. A man or woman must be paid what they are worth. If we allow this minimum wage curse to continue, we will have submitted ourselves to a form of human bondage. We have put greed of a few people before prosperity for all the people. We have allowed a handful to enrich themselves under the guise of “investors.” Meanwhile the vast majority of the populace descends to the poverty level because of this artificial barrier called the minimum wage. It has robbed many of us any incentive to work.

I got the following information from the LLDS DOL listing from about two years ago for the labor market and came up with some interesting and depressing facts. While the numbers may have slightly changed, I feel that they are basically accurate.

As we glance through them, think how few of these positions are filled by locals. Oh, yes, I almost forgot who wants to work for minimum wages? Let them collect food stamps or simply get an uncle or auntie to get them a do-nothing job with the government guarding the water cooler. When will this change?

Let us look at “unskilled positions” first. Unskilled labor is one that requires less than six months of on-the-job training to learn the skills. I have selected only a few job categories.

A. Houseworkers/housekeepers 1,648
B. Commercial Cleaners 984
C. Waiter/waitress 840
D. Cooks 777
E. Farmer/farm workers 656
F. Security guards 278
G. Bartenders 67
H. Fishermen 57
I . Cashiers 172
J. Kitchen helpers 131
K. Bakers 87
L. Laundry workers 85
M. Casino dealers 80
N. Arcade poker attendants 74

Number of unskilled jobs by nonresident workers 5,036

Let’s look at the skilled jobs positions now. Skilled labor is defined as training that requires more than six months of training or education.

A. Accountant 734
B. Maintenance Worker 696
C. GM/Mgr/Sales Mgr/ 613
D. Carpenter 477
E. Mason 444
F. Auto Mechanic 377
G. Administrative Assistant 329
H. Electrician 242
I. Nurse 164
J. Beautician 175
K. Heavy equipment operator 168
M. Construction 127
N. Chef 99

Total number of jobs by nonresident workers 4,645

Are the above jobs being done by nonresident workers, jobs that our local people cannot do or be trained to do? I don’t think so. What happened that we allowed this to happen? Meanwhile our unemployed residents continue to be unemployed and looking for handouts. And worst of all, leave the islands.

As we examine the list, please understand, I am not criticizing any nonresident worker or his ability to work. I am attacking a system that has put our local people into a state of poverty and robbed them of the dignity and pride to work. Our government has turned its back on its own people for many years in the disguise of “economic progress?” Have foreign investments created jobs for the local labor force and prosperity for the community? Today we are in a state of depression and desperation while we squirm in the hole we have dug for ourselves. Why?

Consider that 71 percent or more of this year’s budget will go to pay for government employees. This means that from a meager estimated budget of $156.7 million about $111 million will fund the salaries of 4,105 full-time government employees in a country of less that 50,000 population.And the rest of us are doomed to $4.05 per hour or food stamps. With 71 percent of the money going for salaries, how can the government offer services to us? We live in a socialistic state.

The other night I had a dream in which all government workers were paid the minimum wage of $4.05 an hour as in the private sector. What a saving! What equity! Suddenly I woke up in a sweat realizing that it was only a dream.

Another time I dreamt of all the money and headaches we could have saved over the years if the majority of our labor force had been locals. We wouldn’t need such a large Department of Labor Agency or a large immigration office. Think of all the hearings we wouldn’t need and inspectors, etc. Wow! Think of all the money saved and all the local manpower utilized. But that too was a dream unfortunately.

The other day one of the administration’s spokesman said that the CNMI economy needs 30,000 workers to function at a level that produces a reasonable U.S. equivalent standard of living. What? At $4.05 per hour? And for whom? Nonresident workers? The only way a worker can be productive is to pay him a decent wage based on his skill level. We scare away so many talented people by imposing salary levels. As a result we rarely are able to hire someone with real talent who stays.

America has a strong work ethic which allows any worker to rise to his level of proficiency and pays him for it. If we would recognize that, more of us would strive to better ourselves and work to improve our community. We too can have a strong work ethic.

I have spoken to many older citizens who tell about the times when there were no nonresident workers. They speak about their skills as carpenters, electricians, and other trades they had mastered. The younger people tell me about their fathers and mothers and the work they did before the floodgates of low wage workers inundated our islands. If it was true then, it can be true again.

In an article as short as this I know that this complicated problem labor issue cannot be resolved, but I hope to make you begin thinking that the only way we can regain our economic prosperity is with the development of our “human capital. I have no objection to allowing investors to come in and earn a good return with their investments. But when the residents do not share in the prosperity, that is not good.

Luiz Inacio Lula Da Silva, President of Brazil says it best: “It’s called doing things right, allowing the rich to earn money with their investments and the poor to participate in economic growth.” But sadly, only a handful insiders benefit. Meanwhile the rest of us watch from the outside as little children glaring through the bakery shop window smelling and seeing the tasty sweet things inside but being unable to afford them. When will we change this?

Have a great day and let’s not forget to be thankful for the little things that God gives us daily.