Bracing for the feared end of the contract worker program in 2019, the administration of Gov. Ralph DLG Torres unveiled plans yesterday to retool the responsibilities of cultural and indigenous offices under the Governor\u2019s Office toward hiring and training local workers\u2014and on the U.S. federal side\u2014build the case for a reform of local-federal tax agreements to include earned income tax credits\u2014benefits that could incentivize workforce participation for those that fear higher incomes would disqualify them from the social safety nets they enjoy.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe cannot assume that an extension will be granted,\u201d Torres said yesterday in a speech during the Society of Human Resource Management-NMI Chapter monthly membership yesterday at the Pacific Islands Club Saipan.<\/p>\n
The administration\u2019s moves to prepare for the impending end of the contract worker program\u2014to ask for federal resources for worker programs, get new tax benefits, among others\u2014will need data to stress the CNMI\u2019s needs. President Barack Obama\u2019s White House has also yet to officially green light or even respond to the request for consultation on the CW issue, and some of these plans would require statutory changes that may be tough to navigate through a polarized U.S. Congress sometimes deaf to needs of a little island chain out in the Pacific.<\/p>\n
The plan is to get data to help Delegate Gregorio Kilili C. Sablan (Ind-MP) \u201cbuild the case\u201d in U.S. Congress, a senior administrative official said yesterday. <\/p>\n
The official was referring to, among others, to the American Community Survey, which provides data every year to stateside communities to properly plan investments and services.<\/p>\n
Business leader Jim Arenovski said the fact the government is putting in efforts together to address how it approaches the federal government is important. \u201cWe need to be able to have our own house in line,\u201d he said. \u201c\u2026We have to exhaust our local labor pool\u201d and \u201cexhaust and find out how what that number is. How many of the locals are eligible and can work and are willing to work.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOnce we have that information, and the negative effect our economy will be in 2019\u2014those will be powerful numbers for any legislator, or any of the 902 [consultation] negotiators to be able to see that we need their help.\u201d<\/p>\n
Torres\u2019 goal is to advocate for increased federal resources from the Executive Branch. This could come from the Bureau of Economic Analysis, which studies the components that contribute to gross domestic product, or the Bureau of Labor Statistics which provides data that can reveal the extent of the unemployed population.<\/p>\n
The latest statistics the CNMI has on its demographics and population was from 2009\u2014during the last Census\u2014but the next set of data would be \u201ccreated and released one year after we need them,\u201d Torres said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe do not have the necessary data,\u201d Torres said in his speech, \u201cnor the access to data that is required to view the complete picture of the effects the end of this [contract worker] transition may bring,\u201d <\/p>\n
\u201cWe are working to reform the work registration requirement of our social services\u201d to task locals to join the workforce, Torres also said, referring to the local food stamp program. <\/p>\n
The CNMI is also statutorily ineligible to receive programs like Wagner-Peyser and Job Corps, which provides federal funding for job training and placement <\/p>\n
These programs are \u201cideally suited for our situation,\u201d Torres said. \u201cThis is again a Congressional issue that Congressman Sablan has worked to rectify.\u201d<\/p>\n
Torres urged the hiring of personnel outside CW programs; pursue seasonal visas for construction projects; and increase wages to attract local and U.S. eligible workers. This will prepare the CNMI for \u201cwhatever outcome 2019 will hold,\u201d Torres said.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou need to hire locals,\u201d Arenovski said. \u201cAnybody that is not at this point is missing out on a great opportunity because of a great level of opportunities.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd as we found out just recently, the risk is a little bit lower,\u201d he said, referring to the recent delay in the processing of about 2,800 contract worker permit renewals, which forced business to cut hours and close shop.<\/p>\n
Arenovski said that wages are a choice for each individual business to make, but as the CNMI sees the competitive nature of the labor market increase with new investments, they will see a natural increase in the hiring wage of individual companies in order to compete with some of the hotels, casinos, or some of the larger companies that are coming into the CNMI<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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