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Hofschneider: NMC will likely drop trade, technical programs
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Posted on Aug 11 2005
Rep. Heinz S. Hofschneider said that local educational officials, particularly at Northern Marianas College, have long since identified the CNMI’s stagnant $3.05 minimum wage as the reason why there is virtually no interest by local young persons in trade and technical programs at NMC or elsewhere.
“We constantly hear about how we must replace contract workers with local persons, but as things stand, I don’t see how we can convince our citizens to become trained in services that are very much in demand locally and well paid on the U.S. mainland and other developed regions,” Hofschneider said.
Hofschneider re-emphasized that his proposed legislation is far from answering every question about the minimum wage, but believes it’s a good start.
“Let’s continue to discuss these issues until we have an acceptable resolution. We have local citizens that are out of work and opportunities in the private sector for them, but without training in key areas it is not likely that we can replace nonresident workers with skilled and highly trained local residents until a few key adjustments are made, particularly in the area of wages,” Hofschneider said. (PR)
