Cross-utilization bill awaits governor’s nod
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Posted on Nov 26 1998
The House of Representatives yesterday approved the amendment on a bill that will ease restrictions on the utilization of foreign workers and allow constant shifting in job categories, paving the way for Gov. Pedro P. Tenorio’s action on the proposal.
The legislation was among the dozens of bills passed by the House in a marathon session yesterday, which has been overdue since last week when representatives voted for two landmark bills last November 19.
House Bill 11-293, which heads to Tenorio for signing, is part of the effort of the CNMI government to respond to clamor from the private sector for less stringent policies affecting business operations in the commonwealth in the wake of the deepening economic crisis here.
The measure, proposed by House Speaker Diego T. Benavente, aims to remove “unreasonable bureaucratic or regulatory obstacles and allow the more efficient use and employment of alien labor, thus achieving a sustainable, equitable balance between resident and alien labor.”
It has sought to amend a local regulation allowing assignment of non-resident workers to perform any services or labor beyond their job classification under their employment contract.
Lawmakers have said the proposal is part of a package of reform measures expected to be passed by the legislature in the next few months to address concerns by business leaders jittery over NMI’s stringent requirements.
Joe Ayuyu, outgoing president of the Saipan Chamber of Commerce, had earlier pressed for smooth mobility of foreign manpower within a company to perform other work based on skills.
The existing law is viewed by businessmen as restrictive because employees are not given opportunities to get job promotion despite being highly skilled.
With the shift in policy, most businesses can adapt easily to a current ban on the hiring of non-resident workers imposed by the island government since April, according to the chamber leader.
Northern Marianas officials have stepped up efforts to reform its labor and immigration policies following growing pressure from Washington which has been critical of their failure to curb entry of migrant workers from Asian countries.
