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Brown: Ombudsman’s office is CNMI’s partner
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Posted on Jul 21 1999
The Office of the Ombudsman, newly created under the US Department of the Interior, will be the CNMI’s partner in addressing labor concerns of alien workers, Ombudsman Pam Brown said yesterday.
“My office will provide a unique opportunity for the CNMI and federal governments to work together in concert to clean up the image of the CNMI,” said Brown, who spoke at the Rotary Club of Saipan’s luncheon meeting at the Hyatt Regency.
Brown officially assumed her post early last month. The creation of her office was part of the US-CNMI Immigration, Labor and Law Enforcement Initiative established by US Congress in 1994.
“What led to this congressional mandate was the severe, pervasive, and ongoing contract worker labor abuses documented in the CNMI,” Brown said.
Her office, Brown added, “will provide an ear and a hand to alien workers’ concern seeking redress under federal and commonwealth laws.”
The job of the Ombudsman is to listen to the workers’ complaints and assist them in finding the best resolution for their problems, she said.
“This is not an attorney’s job. I’m not a litigator nor an advocate. My office serves as a mediator/liaison/trouble shooter,” Brown said.
She said the Ombudsman’s office is an independent and impartial agency that is also mandated to educate workers and employers about their rights.
“This out-reach program is a key to ensuring that any abuses due to ignorance are eliminated,” Brown said.
About 300 cases have been brought to the ombudsman office since its creation, Brown said.
One of the Ombudsman’s functions is to decide to which agency a particular case should be brought. It decides if a case involves violations of federal or commonwealth laws.
“Most agencies are busy and they don’t have the time to assess all cases, ” Brown said.
Brown said most common complaints brought to her office involved, “adverse actions” related to union activities.
These cases are referred to the National Labor Relations Board.
Another common complaint involves non-payment of wages, specifically those filed by workers employed through the government Limited Immunity Act.
Brown said these cases are referred to the local labor department as it involves a Commonwealth law. (MCM)
