AFTER NO-SHOW AT CHAMBER Zachares seeks unity to deal with takeover

After receiving a stinging criticism from members of the Saipan Chamber of Commerce on his policies, Department of Labor and Immigration Secretary Mark Zachares avoided discussing the controversial issues as he called for unity among the government and business sectors amid renewed threats of a federal takeover on labor and immigration.

Zachares failed to show up in last month’s meeting of the Chamber where issues concerning bonding fees, deportation of non resident workers, amnesty and never ending delays in the processing of documents were supposed to be discussed. Chamber members expressed disappointment on the DOLI chief’s no show in the meeting.

When he finally showed up in the monthly meeting last June 2, Zachares offered no explanation why he did not attend the Chamber gathering. “Right now is not the time to dwell on those issues that divide us or those issues that we may disagree with,” he said.

Instead, Zachares said they must focus their efforts on how to maintain local control of immigration and labor as a US Congressional hearing has been temporarily scheduled in September of this year. The US Congressional hearing last year was attended by the Chamber and the Hotel Association of Northern Mariana Islands, which presented separate position papers on the effects of the planned federalization.

Speaking before businessmen, the DOLI chief noted the importance of maintaining a united front amid fresh calls of the federal government to gain control of CNMI’s labor and immigration.

Chamber members were seeking changes in the policies of DOLI as they questioned the bonding fee requirement imposed on the employers and the job qualifications set by the department in various categories.

Employers maintained that they should be allowed to draw up their own set of job qualifications. In the processing of documents, the business sector complained the long period in Job Vacancy Announcement procedure imposed by the department.

Furthermore, business executives also complained that some DOLI employees are prejudiced against their Asian, workers who are always given a hard time in processing their documents.

The business sector has strongly opposed the planned federalization of immigration and minimum wage because this would lead to the closure of many establishments, which are already reeling from the effects of the Asian economic crisis.