Chamber wants three-year stay limit ‘dead’

The Saipan Chamber of Commerce revived on Friday its opposition to the implementation of a three-year limit stay for nonresident workers in the CNMI.

SCC officers raised the issue, along with many other concerns, during a breakfast meeting with the House leadership at the Hyatt Regency Hotel Saipan.

“The chamber raised several issues, including the three-year limit, which is not dead yet. It’s only suspended but its suspension may expire soon and they want this discussed and dealt with,” said House leadership spokesman Charles P. Reyes Jr.

In previous years, the chamber had encouraged its members to actively lobby the Legislature for the elimination of the three-year limit stay for nonresident workers.

The chamber warned that the legislation’s implementation would result in businesses being paralyzed because nonresident workers occupy thousands of positions in various offices and workplaces.

Meantime, Reyes said the chamber also cited the need for the government to formulate poker policies “that’s conducive to business operations” and the need to ensure a stricter enforcement of laws addressing alleged illegal sale in military stores.

The chamber, during the meeting, reiterated its objection to the newly approved $50 labor fee increase for nonresident workers registration.

“They want it revisited. They continue to oppose it,” said Reyes.

Meantime, the chamber welcomed the recent enactment of a measure that authorizes the Public School System to develop a technical education program in secondary schools.

The SCC, which is the largest private business organization in the Commonwealth, aims to hold periodic dialogues with the Legislature in its efforts to build a stronger relationship with lawmaking body.

“They want to go over important legislation and to register their concerns in terms of legislation,” said Reyes.

Present lawmakers in Friday’s meeting were House Speaker Benigno R. Fitial, acting House minority leader Ray Tebuteb, Vice Speaker Timothy Villagomez, and Reps. Clyde Norita and Joseph Deleon Guerrero.

No senators were present in the meeting.

“The speaker is sympathetic toward the needs of the business community. He will do what he can to support the business community in terms of legislation but he is also insistent on maximizing local employment,” said Reyes.