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Governor gets wage panel organized
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Posted on Jan 08 1999
Under fresh threats of a federal takeover of the commonwealth’s control over labor and minimum wage, Gov. Pedro P. Tenorio yesterday convened the wage review committee whose task is to set a new minimum wage for local industries.
This is the first time the governor met with the members of the review committee since a law creating it was put in place in July to dampen efforts of Washington to clip the powers of the Northern Marianas to set minimum wage and control immigration.
“This is just an initial meeting and try to organize the committee,” Tenorio said. Another meeting has been scheduled for January 28 to elect the chairman of the wage review committee, he added.
The meeting comes at a time when CNMI is preparing for the resumption of the long-delayed 902 consultations with the United States this month to discuss problems stemming from the handling of immigration and labor by commonwealth officials.
Just recently, the Office of Insular Affairs, overseer of Northern Marianas and other insular areas, renewed calls for the federalization of these commonwealth functions, citing a report that says reforms being undertaken by the local government remain inadequate.
Under Public Law 11-22, which abolished the Wage and Salary Review Board, nine members – three from the local employers and three from employees, including one non-resident worker, and three representatives from the federal government – will comprise the committee.
The three members who will represent federal agencies will have to be appointed by the US Senate majority leader, the House speaker and the labor administrator.
The measure empowers the governor to determine whether to create one committee or separate wage boards to deal with every industry. He may consult with the wage administrator of the US Department of Labor on this issue.
According to lawmakers, involving federal representatives in determining the local minimum wage could help thwart attempts to raise local wage rates to federal standards.
However, the law says that while the committees can recommend any wage increase, it should “not substantially curtail current or future economic activity or viability of any industry.”
