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Shorter transfer period for guest workers pushed
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Posted on May 20 1999
The House Labor and Immigration Committee yesterday endorsed two measures for voting by the full legislative body that will seek amendment to existing regulations on nonresident workers, including employment transfer and restriction of medical benefits.
Committee chair Rep. Herman T. Palacios said both bills will be considered for passage in the next House session following overwhelming support from members of the panel.
House Bill 11-237 will require guest workers who seek transfer to another job to secure employment within three days upon the expiration of the previous contract, or else they must leave the island immediately or face deportation.
Offered by House Majority Floor Leader Ana S. Teregeyo, this is an amendment to a provision of Public Law 11-6 or the hiring moratorium law that allows transfer without the mandatory exit requirement.
HB 11-397, on the other hand, seeks to limit coverage of medical insurance granted by local employers to alien workers, excluding cosmetic surgery from the benefits.
While the Legislature acknowledges the need to provide medical care, such as insurance and free hospitalization, it should not be unlimited, according to the proposal sponsored by Palacios.
“We never intended for employers to be responsible for medically unnecessary cosmetic surgery for their workers. Rather, we feel that employers should be responsible only for such medical care that is determined by a Commonwealth licensed practitioner to be medically necessary,” the bill said.
The move stemmed from reported lawsuit filed by one nonresident worker against her employer who refused to pay the hospitalization for cosmetic surgery sought by the employee.
With this amendment, lawmakers hope to set the guidelines on which medical benefits are covered under the mandatory health care for guest workers.
