Nogis: No funding for one-stop center By Marian A. Maraya

Due to funding woes, CNMI is not likely to see a one-stop general employment agency in the near future, Workforce Investment Agency (formerly Job Training Partnership Act) Executive Director Felix Nogis disclosed yesterday.

Mr. Nogis explained that the Commonwealth’s unique labor and immigration setup excludes it from being eligible for the Wagner-Peyser Act, a federal statute that provides full funding for the one-stop approach.

“Only jurisdictions under the US Labor and Immigration are eligible for this act. Since CNMI has its own labor policies, we are not eligible,” said Mr. Nogis.

“And given our austerity measures and the economic situation of the CNMI, at this point in time it does not make sense to implement a one stop-program,” he added.

Other US territories such as the US Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, and Guam are accorded one-stop funding appropriations under the Wagner-Peyser Act.

Guam, in particular, has been receiving federal funding for its center for the past four years, according to Mr. Nogis.

The federal grant essentially sustains support for the one-stop approach, an effective job training, education and employment service center in the mainland focused on meeting the needs of businesses for skilled workers and the training, education, and employment needs of individuals, all in one convenient location.

But Mr. Nogis underscored coordination between local service providers will be well in place as regards to employment referrals and job placements even without the one-stop service center.

“I think it is an advantage to have agencies that are part of the Workforce Investment Act, and all employment and training programs to maintain their own offices because essentially those offices will be accessible to the same application, same screening process, instead of having people come up here to get the service,” said Mr. Nogis.

Job seekers can turn to other agencies such as the Office of Vocational Rehabilitation, the Public School System, the Northern Marianas College and the private sector for employment and training services, , according to Mr. Nogis.

“There definitely will be coordination between agencies just not under one roof because where we are going to get funding to rent one commercial building? And the cost of buying computers may reach a quarter of a million when the grant is only a half a million,” he said.

Meanwhile, effective last July 1 JTPA was repealed and now assumes a new name as WIA, a national employment system designed to meet the needs of CNMI’s businesses and job seekers pursuant to the federal government’s recently passed law, the Workforce Investment Act of 1998.

The act mandates all training and employment programs to merge and coordinate efforts to provide more effective services.

Under the legislation, the Workforce Investment Act shall establish a local workforce investment board to oversee the new system which now mostly consists of members from the private sector.