DOLI: Labor reforms paying off

The Northern Marianas government’s implementation of numerous labor and immigration reforms since the new administration took over January 12, 1998 shows dramatic decrease in labor complaints as well as significant reduction in the overall number of alien workers, according to Labor and Immigration Secretary Mark D. Zachares.

Zachares strongly disputes the Interior Department’s annual report which claimed that immigration, labor and trade problems remain as “troublesome as ever.”

Many of the issues addressed in the latest federal report are rehash of reports issued during the past four years, according to Zachares.

“The Department of the Interior’s report is at best misleading,” Zachares said. “The report simply dismisses various labor and immigration reforms this administration has implemented since it took office. The Interior Department persists in using inflammatory and inaccurate characterization such as involuntary.”

To back up his claims that reforms are working, Zachares pointed out a 42 percent decrease in labor complaints. In 1998, there were about 980 labor complaints filed compared to 1,279 in 1997.

Civil lawsuits against 33 employers and one bonding company have been filed, of which the CNMI has won six against eight employers. Four more suits against several employees are awaiting the judge’s signature for judgment in favor of the CNMI.

Twenty-one more lawsuits are expected to be settled within two weeks, Zachares said.

In criminal enforcement, Zachares said 18 cases against 32 individuals and corporations are pending, including a 147-count case against theAsia Pacific Security and four other security companies and a 162-count case against Benavente Security Agency.

The department has also obtained a $1 million judgment and payment in full of unpaid wages against MGM garment manufacturer.

The labor and immigration secretary noted that there were 840 arrests with 416 illegal aliens ordered deported.

“We’re making noticeable progress in the enforcement of our local labor, immigration and minimum wage laws,” Zachares said. “We’re vigorously investigating more cases.

According to Zachares, the CNMI has discontinued the entry of most citizens of the People’s Republic of China because of PROC’s denials and delays in accepting the return of its nationals who are deported.

The DOLI chief also cited a letter from Philippine Consul Julia C. Heidemann to Gov. Pedro P. Tenorio where she noted her own investigations into alleged abuses of Filipinos workers in the CNMI.

“The Consulate report emphatically reiterated the good working conditions of our Filipino workers and the effective coordination efforts between the Consulate and the local government,” Heidemann wrote in April 21, 1998.

On allegations about abuse of workers from Bangladesh, Zachares said the CNMI stopped recruiting workers from that country since the beginning of this administration. Zachares met with officials of the Bangladeshi Embassy last December who expressed approval of the CNMI reform efforts.

The Hearings Office at DOLI has awarded a total of $7.5 million to employees from erring employers within a one-year period; fines collected from employers amounted to $500,000.

One hundred thirty-three employers have been barred from hiring non-resident workers. The Office has settled 233 cases.

With the enactment of a moratorium on hiring of foreign workers that has allowed work transfers, more than 1,000 guest workers requested to move to different employers. The number of cases settled in mediation totaled 184.

Since the limited immunity went into effect on December 2, more than 1,300 have registered so far.