Bill to lure retirees to gov’t service awaits Senate okay

Legislation aimed at enticing retirees to return to government service is awaiting action by the Senate as lawmakers hope the proposal will address shortage of teachers and nurses on the islands.

If it becomes law, H.B. 12-231 will exempt retired government employees who have availed of the early retirement bonus from paying back the benefit once they decide to work again in the public sector.

The proposed waiver will be an incentive to them since many are reluctant to return to government service precisely because of the requirement, according to lawmakers.

The Commonwealth has been facing serious shortage of classroom teachers and medical professionals — a situation that can be eased if these retirees are hired again.

Many of them are qualified but have indicated a willingness to apply for critical government jobs if they do not have to repay their early retirement bonus, lawmakers said.

While it notes that the original purpose of early retirement bonus was to encourage people to retire and open up positions for newly graduates, the Legislature believes there is simply not sufficient applicants to meet the need for these professions.

The bonus equivalent to 30 percent of a year’s salary is paid in lumpsum to employees after 20 years of service. But the benefit was scrapped early this year due to financial difficulties confronting the government, affecting those recently hired.
The House Committee on Judiciary and Government Operations has endorsed the proposal which has cleared the lower house. It is now up for Senate voting.

HB 12-231, offered by Rep. Malua T. Peter, followed the legislation which extends the sunset provision on the ban on hiring of nonresident workers for government positions.

Gov. Pedro P. Tenorio signed it into law the other day which gives the Department of Public Health, the Northern Marianas College and the Commonwealth Utilities Corp. and the Department of Public Works until 2005 to phase out their foreign manpower.

The ban was supposed to take effect last September 30, but government agencies asked the Legislature to defer the restriction by another five years due to lack of local workers to fill these positions.

Exempted from the hiring ban are nurses, allied health providers like X-ray technicians and pharmacy specialists as well as research scientists, engineers and teachers.