NMI wage issues are referred to Homeland Security, EEOC

The U.S. Department of Labor has referred to the Department of Homeland Security and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission several complaints raised by the United Workers Movement regarding companies in the CNMI that are not complying with the federal minimum wage law.

UWM president Irene N. Tantiado earlier wrote the U.S. Labor office about this issue and provided it feedback that her group had obtained from workers on Saipan.

These workers, Tantiado said, have tried to contact the U.S. Labor office but could not get any response or no one was able to get the needed response.

In response to the letter, the Director of the Division of Performance, Budget and Department Liaison, Janice E. Hendrix, of the Employment Standards Administration Wage and Hour Division referred these issues to the Homeland Security and EEOC for further response.

Hendrix explained that the issues the UWM raised fall within the jurisdiction of these two agencies.

Hendrix said the Wage and Hour Division is responsible for enforcing many of the U.S.’ most basic federal labor standard laws, including the minimum wage, overtime, recordkeeping and child labor provisions of the FLSA.

She said division field personnel, located in regional, district, and field offices throughout the country, carry out the day-to-day enforcement responsibilities of the agency.

She explained that the division regularly examines the staffing levels of its field office to determine where investigative resources are needed. She said this is similar to other agencies such as the Occupational Safety Health Administration, which undertakes staffing reviews.

Hendrix noted that President’s 2009 budget that was submitted to Congress contains a request for additional funds that would enable the division to have more employees, including additional investigators and field support personnel.

“Consequently, the Wage and Hour Division has been updating its criteria for the allocation and placement of new enforcement staff in the event that the additional funding request is granted,” Hendrix said.

She assured the United Workers Movement that the U.S. labor office is committed to enforcing the FLSA , “as it is to all labor standard statues within its purview.”

“We appreciate your concern, and Wage and Hour Division will afford them full consideration in determining criteria for the placement of future investigative staff,” she said.