Job placement agency for CNMI graduates eyed

To help college graduates find jobs, a legislative proposal is seeking the establishment of a program that will refer these students to prospective employers and thus provide opportunities for them to enter the local workforce.

According to the bill offered by Rep. David M. Apatang, the proposed program will also help lessen reliance by the CNMI on foreign manpower as it will prioritize graduating and returning local students in positions held by alien workers.

Its immediate purpose, however, is to “ease the burden for returning CNMI graduates in finding the right job for them and for employers in obtaining the best qualified employee,” the representative said.

Called the College Graduate Employment Referral Program Act of 1999, the legislation will task the Division of Employment Services within the Department of Labor and Immigration to oversee the functions of a job placement agency.

Covered under the program will be CNMI residents who are graduates of the Northern Marianas College as well as universities in the mainland and other countries, including technical, vocational courses, master’s and doctorate degrees.

Prospective employers who might be part of the program should have a certificate of good standing and must pay non-refundable registration fee ranging from $5 to $120, depending on their gross income.

The director of the DOLI division shall promulgate rules and regulations to implement the program, such as e mechanism for registration of graduating students who can be enlisted as potential job applicants.

To ensure the success of the program, the director needs to develop a referral, follow-up and monitoring system for students who match the qualifications being sought by participating companies or employers.

As part of incentives, an employer who eventually hires graduates under the program will get full refund of the nonresident worker’s fee as well as an income tax credit equivalent to the registration fee he paid to be part of the job placement mechanism.

“Properly implemented, this program will contribute to the reduction in the number of alien contract workers by hiring graduates for position formerly occupied” by these guest employees, Apatang said in justifying his measure.

Although introduced two weeks ago in the House of Representatives, the bill has yet to be included in the priority list of legislation that will be acted by members.