54 La Mode workers denied transfer to other factory

The government has denied the transfer of 54 unemployed garment workers to another apparel factory, despite the willingness of the other factory to take on the displaced workers, senators said yesterday.

Minority leader Pete P. Reyes, during a session yesterday, lambasted the Department of Labor and the Attorney General’s Office, which he said had issued an opinion against the transfer.

“Why would the AGO submit an opinion that prohibits the transfer of garment workers from a factory that’s closing down to another factory?” asked Reyes, who expressed fears that unemployed workers might end up “working” on Saipan streets.

“We are concerned about the 54 employees going to Paseo de Marianas looking for jobs there,” said the senator, in an oblique reference to the alleged upsurge in prostitution activities in the Garapan area.

Sen. Luis Crisostimo agreed, saying that the denial happened even if there was a factory needing the workers.

The senators said the factory, Island Apparel, was willing to employ the displaced 54 employees from La Mode, which is closing down.

Senate majority leader Paul M. Manglona agreed that having some 50 nonresident workers without jobs in the CNMI “is a big concern.”

He said, though, that the AGO’s denial was premised on the fact that Island Apparel is not among those under Schedule A, a list of garment manufacturers with prescribed quotas and are paying user fees. These are the manufacturers that export apparel products.

He said the AGO cited a law that prevents the government from issuing new licenses under this category as it would affect the existing moratorium within the industry.

Under the law, the garment industry is not allowed to hire more than 15,727 workers.

“Since Island Apparel is not under Schedule A, the transfer was not allowed,” he said.

Yet, Manglona said, “the irony is that the department allows garment workers on temporary permits to work outside the industry when the law says transfers can only be allowed among garment factories.”

Manglona said he thinks that the workers may be employed if they are instead given temporary work authorizations.

Reyes recommended yesterday that a Senate panel be tasked to investigate the matter. “This is an example of how intrusive AGO can be,” said Reyes.