CHCC to lose over 20 nurses due to ‘touchback’

Due to the inevitable “touchback” provision under the CNMI-Only Transitional Worker program that many foreign workers must comply with, the Commonwealth Healthcare Corp. will see the loss of over 20 nurses.

Effective Sept. 30, the CW program’s “touchback” provision officially will take effect which means many CW-1 visa workers have either left the island already or are getting ready to leave.

Although a vital organization, the CHCC, which employs many CW-1 nurses, was not given an exemption.

According to CHCC spokesperson Lee Tenorio, the CHCC is feeling the impact of the “touchback” provision as it anticipates the loss of 28 nurses in the next few months.

“Similar to many other organizations and local enterprises, the Commonwealth Healthcare Corp. is dealing with the effects of the touchback situation. Over the next 6-8 months, we anticipate that approximately 28 nurses will depart for touchback reasons,” he said.

However, CHCC has been proactively preparing for the anticipated exodus of nurses by recruiting from the local community and abroad.

“We are actively engaged in ongoing recruitment efforts within the local community and abroad, specifically in the Philippines, Korea, and the United States. We have been successful in hiring a number of nurses through these efforts. Additionally, we maintain continuous communication with graduates from the [Northern Marianas College] nursing program who have successfully passed the NCLEX, exploring job opportunities with them,” said Tenorio.

Tenorio added that CHCC is dedicated to upholding a consistent standard of care and service for the CNMI community.

Over the weekend, dozens of foreign workers were seen at the Francisco C. Ada/Saipan International Airport as part of what’s considered the first batch of CW-1 workers to depart in compliance with the “touchback” provision.

Saipan Tribune observed many saying their goodbyes to friends and family members they were forced to leave behind.

Some were teary eyed and reluctant to leave while others were happy to return to their home countries for a much needed “vacation.”

Upon speaking to some of them, Saipan Tribune learned that many are hopeful that they will return while others remain uncertain.

Although the CNMI Department of Labor does not have a clear picture of the actual impact of the “touchback” provision, the department has already started hosting job fairs in hopes of filling the anticipated gaps in various industries.

Saipan Tribune learned that hundreds of job openings in construction, manpower services, retail, hospitality services, and more are anticipated as a result of the “touchback” rule.