Bill removes employer’s obligation for alien worker’s pregnancy costs

A bill has been introduced in the House of Representatives that would remove employer’s obligations to pay for medical expenses related to pregnancies for nonresident workers.

Under HB 16-232, private sector employers of nonresident workers must continue to be responsible for medical expenses of the nonresident worker, including referrals and evacuation for medical treatment outside the CNMI, and the cost of embalming and transporting the body back to the country of origin in the case of death. However, the bill eliminates the requirement that the employer must pay for any costs related to family planning, including pregnancies, delivery and prenatal checkups. The employee and his or her respective partner must be responsible for all costs associated with the medical expenses.

“When it comes down to a stomachache, headache or flu, that’s not my problem. That’s not my concern. But if an individual has decided to enhance their family, they should be responsible for it,” said Rep. Ralph DLG Torres, who authored the bill.

He noted that employers do not pay for the same medical expenses for resident workers.

“Or any other medical privileges, and nonresidents get that,” he said. “Just to be fair, if you want to enhance your family that’s fine, just be responsible.”

Also, the legislation said, a nonresident female’s employer is required to pay for such medical expenses but not an employer of a nonresident male.

The representative is not arguing whether the nonresident workers have a right to stay and work in the CNMI, he said.

“If they want to stay, that’s your right. I don’t argue that, but it’s just when you want to enhance your family, you should be responsible for that,” Torres said.

If a worker is not able to pay $30, how can they raise a child? he asked.

When asked if he fears such a measure would force some nonresident workers to put off prenatal care, he said:

“If you go there they’re going to give you medical attention. No matter what. At the end of the day, when you’re done with the delivery, I think the family should come back and say I make $500 a month, obviously, I cannot make it, but $50 a month would be enough. But just to totally give employers that responsibility, that’s not right.”

The issue is the biggest among many employers in terms of labor, Torres said, and he gets lots of complaints from people.