Workers rally to support garment industry

About a hundred garment workers yesterday rallied in support of the garment industry outside the Horiguchi Building where visiting U.S. lawmakers, led by Rep. Don Young (R-Alaska), were meeting with federal officials in the CNMI.

Holding placards and banners appealing to save their jobs, these workers, most of them indigenous, protested against a federal takeover proposal being pushed by the Clinton administration in the U.S. Congress.

“We still need these factories,” said Armalita Ramon. “The people of Saipan can have good employment that only garment industry can provide now.”

Moses Fejeran, leader of the representative workers from various garment manufacturing firms on the island, appealed to the members of the U.S. House Resources Committee to respect the provisions of the Covenant which had established self-rule for the Northern Marianas people.

Amending the agreement to impose a takeover will only bring the CNMI into another round of federal subsidy, according to the garment leader.

“The garment industry is the only one now that provides financial assistance to the government,” Fejeran explained. “What we are asking (the U.S.) is to give us a chance to develop a self-sustaining economy and support for continued self-government.”

Forged more than 20 years ago, the Covenant delegated powers on local immigration, labor, minimum wage and customs to island officials, but the White House is bent on taking over these functions due to what they claim as failure by the CNMI to curb the number of guest workers here.

Local government officials and business leaders have opposed the move due to its devastating impact on the island economy.

The main tourism industry is reeling from the prolonged recession in Asia where most of the visitors come from, leaving the garment business as steady source of income for the cash-strapped government.

Young arrived yesterday for a three-day visit on Saipan with other congressional members and staff. He chairs the Resources Committee which has jurisdiction over the Northern Marianas and other U.S. insular areas.

In the same rally, the garment workers were joined by dozens of foreign workers from China, Bangladesh and the Philippines who were protesting against unpaid wages from their former employers.

About two dozens of Bangladeshi nationals appealed for help after losing their job as security guards. They used to work for several manpower agencies which have folded up and left some unpaid wages.

“They need food, job, housing,” said their spokesman Mohammed F. Ahmed who is now employed by a garment factory.

A small group of Filipinos, meanwhile, held a placard asking Washington for a federal takeover.

Their leader Eddie del Rosario said the move is needed in the absence of reforms for the last 15 years on the island. He also slammed Philippine Consul Julia Heidemann for telling Filipinos to go home if they lose their jobs here.

“She should go home first because we are the ones paying her salary,” del Rosario said.