DOL: CNMI is short on construction workers
Construction workers are in demand but in short supply in the CNMI.
In a recent data collection done by the CNMI Department of Labor, there are less than a thousand construction workers in the Commonwealth.
“Internally, we sourced that from our workforce listing that is submitted by the companies,” CNMI Labor Secretary Edith DeLeon Guerrero said.
DOL said there are 839 construction workers on Saipan, 47 on Tinian, and 38 on Rota.
“That is an indication that we’re going to need more construction workers,” DeLeon Guerrero said.
She added that it is “obvious” that there is a shortage on island in terms of construction workers.
“That’s obvious with the amount of projects that are going on. Imagine being a contractor, you have, like, 10 projects on your hands. So how do you split your workers?” DeLeon Guerrero said.
“That tells us that there is a great demand for construction workers in the market right now because of the numerous construction projects that are going on, for example, the Best Sunshine project, and all the other projects that are coming up,” she added.
In the coming years, about 15,000 rooms are projected to be built in the CNMI.
Best Sunshine International, Ltd. alone said it would need about 2,000 workers for the construction and completion of the upcoming Grand Mariana Casino & Hotel Resort in Garapan.
Aside from new constructions, many homes and establishments are still in need of rebuilding after the destruction of Typhoon Soudelor.
According to DeLeon Guerrero they will use the data to build evidence for the Covenant Sectiion 902 talks.
“We will use that number to build the evidence also for the 902 conversations because obviously the employers are petitioning for more employees. We need to provide the data,” DeLeon Guerrero said.
High rates for workers
Because of the high demand for workers in the construction industry, many are jacking up their per hour rates rates to supply workers.
“I get a lot of calls from other contractors expressing concern why are these construction workers charging so much beyond the minimum wage and so forth and I said, well it’s a matter of supply and demand,” DeLeon Guerrero said.
She added that the government can’t do anything about the high rates of construction workers on island. The DOL will come in play only when the rates for workers go below the state minimum wage.
“There’s no restriction there as a business to up the charges. You’re in need of service, so therefore they can call the shots in terms of how much the contract will cost you,” DeLeon Guerrero said.
Eh, Lass;the Yanks are bloody-well famous throughout the world for building -so, why no mention of them in your “report”? I hear it almost everyday, that “certain” individuals are in the pay of the Chinese investors; now it seems that it has bore itself out, right as yer moving yer lips. It would seem as someone has it bullocks for foreign workers, eh? It wouldn’t happen so easy, ya know- where I’m from, I guess we’re know for being a little bit more “participatory”when it comes down to our future, mate.
This statement is so full of inadequacies,. Just for starter the statement about only 1K workers in the construction industry is just plain misinformation and nonsense. Maybe only 1K local workers but NOT 1K CW.
Ms Edith DLG had better wake up and check her sources. If in fact the numbers of constructions companies are correct, that would be 924 construction companies.
If that is correct it would mean that each company has only one CW worker each with only a few with two workers.
I do not know of any companies that has all local workers. I also know of one in particular established Chinese construction company that has over 50 workers, (and 3 Filipino office workers and engineer) all Chinese with a few US Cit. named on the books and receive $500.a month just to have their name as a part of employee records to satisfy DOL..
Only 1000 construction employees would mean that thare are over 10k workers in the hotel and restaurants industries while all of the construction companies are working with about 99% local hires.
If this was so that would be extraordinary and welcomed, we would not have a reported over 50% unemployment in the NMI..(which is also not believable)
It would seem that Ms DLG is not in focus and has no math skills along with her people.
She must be taking lesson from MVAond other Govt. offices that also post unrealistic numbers to suit their needs. Agaiperfect example of local Govt.failure..
If a construction company is charging high rate for their employees to construct then look into the wages of those employees and see what percentage of those fees go to them. If they are still being paid minimum wage then I strongly encourage a policy to deny certification for CW and force the companies to comply with USCIS policies. Use this information to encourage training for our local US citizens. I am certain that if their wages are at par with the kinds of work they would be doing and acceptable with USCIS, there will be more of our kids wanting to get into that field or we can actually attract US citizens from Guam and somewhere nearby. We have three years left. Let’s get moving!
OK, flat rate labor for oil/tire/shock changers is now $105.00 per hour at Tire Kingdom on the mainland. This is what? Nearly $50,000.00 a year. Skilled? Nope. Iron workers, precast concrete molders, electricians? Yes I would think that real world wages are due rather than the LOCAL minimum wage crap. Design engineers, nondestructive testing lab personnel, geophysical engineers, code enforcement officials, etc. will all command in excess of $100,000.00 yearly in wages on top of what ever the parent company charges. These are the jobs that locals should be ready for and banging on doors to get ,anybody can fry eggs and serve coffee for $7.50 an hour. Who needs Guam’s or anyone else’s people when so many here can/might actually do the work that all these developers say “HAS” to be done?