MLO closure to lessen processing period of labor contracts

The closure of the CNMI’s Manila Liaison Office will work to the advantage of both the Commonwealth and Philippine governments, especially in preventing the entry of undocumented Filipino workers into the Northern Marianas.

Philippine Overseas Labor Attaché Araceli Maraya said the shutting down of the Manila Liaison Office is contained in the amended bilateral agreement which is expected to be formalized in Manila middle of November.

Ms. Maraya said changes in the 1994 MOU, which paved the way for the establishment of the CNMI Liaison Office in Manila and the Philippine Workers Resource Center on Saipan, had been agreed by officials from both governments last July.

According to Ms. Maraya, closure of the liaison office will significantly reduce the processing and documentation period of all Northern Marianas-bound Filipino workers since their papers will be coursed direct to the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration.

“Because of that, all new employment contracts will have to pass through the Philippine Consulate here and the POEA. It will be beneficial because this new process would help reduce the entry of undocumented Filipino workers,” she added.

The Philippine labor official also pointed out that CNMI immigration personnel detailed at the Saipan International Airport will require incoming Filipino workers to show their POEA-issued Overseas Employment Certificate.

She explained that the new process will stop the scrupulous practice by some workers who come in as tourists and later on look for employment without documentation from the Philippine government.

“This will not affect the real tourists, though, since they have to hold a roundtrip ticket and an ample amount of pocket money that should be enough for the length of time they would be staying here,” said Ms. Maraya.

She stressed that the amended bilateral labor agreement between the Commonwealth and the Philippine governments has been polished to provide better protection to Filipino workers in the CNMI.

“We are hoping that the meeting between Philippines and CNMI labor officials which was scheduled in Manila will push through in November. We are hoping that we can push through with the signing of the amended MOU by then,” Ms. Maraya said.

Philippines and CNMI labor officials have agreed to amend the existing Memorandum of Agreement during a recent consultative meeting by Labor Undersecretary Felicisimo Joson with Gov. Pedro P. Tenorio and other Commonwealth officials.

Philippines labor officials have lauded the reforms undertaken by the Tenorio Administration which, they said, reaffirms the Commonwealth’s commitment at providing migrant workers here with adequate means of protection against labor abuses.

A technical committee composed of labor officials from each government has been tasked to spell out the details of the agreement.

One of the amendment to the bilateral agreement is the guarantee that the issuance by the POEA of the Overseas Employment Certificate would ensure that the workers are fully covered by a contract endorsed and approved by the CNMI government.

A permanent commission represented by officials from the CNMI and the Philippines had also been created and is set to meet each year alternately on Saipan and in Manila.

Work is also underway for the crafting an agreement to devise a consultative forum that will be tasked to craft working arrangements on labor documentation, implement guidelines and provide a review mechanism.