Torres: Furloughing has always been our last option

With the furlough of many government workers set to take effect next week, Gov. Ralph DLG Torres is providing hope to the workers, saying that when the economy gets better, the furloughed employees would be the first employees to be offered back positions in the government.

With the economic catastrophe the CNMI is facing and with tourism shutdown on the islands, the Torres administration had some very tough decisions made, which included letting go of some of its workforce.

To cut the overall government personnel cost by 50%, the administration made the difficult decision and looked into terminating some excepted service employees, and the furlough of some civil service employees for a one-year period.

Torres, however, made it clear that “furloughing has always been our last option,” adding that they have done austerity, and reduced hours so every employee can maintain their job, but the COVID-19 pandemic made that decision necessary.

The governor also said that the furlough could also be taken as an opportunity, since under the CARES Act’s Pandemic Unemployment Assistance, employees who would get furloughed will be able to avail of the stimulus package. He added that while they do not want to do the furlough, it’s an opportunity for employees to benefit and to receive the unemployment benefit for the next six months or so.

“…When the economy’s health goes back, those will be the first employees to be offered back the position. Again, we don’t [want to] do this but, unfortunately, tourism is our only [industry], and we stand [not] having any tourism [industry] here on the islands for the next few months,” he said.

While continuing to work with local partners, the administration is leveraging and maximizing federal partnership in an effort to save the community.

“We have a lot of business partners throughout the islands but, unfortunately, we have a lot of obstacles and challenges. [For] one, we don’t have a manufacturing company here. We don’t have the services to stimulate our own economy,” he said.

The governor said that revenue comes from the tourism market, and without the tourist money back, the only hope that the CNMI has is to maximize its federal partnership, while continuing to work with partners such as the Saipan Chamber of Commerce, and other organizations.

Last week, when the furlough was announced, the administration assured the community that the government will be exerting all efforts, and work with the U.S. Department of Labor, to ensure the protection of government employees who would be terminated or furloughed.

Furlough is defined as a temporary leave for employees, mostly due to bad economic conditions.