Government-wide austerity measures could not be avoided and are necessary to protect the jobs of hundreds of employees in the Executive Branch and keep the government running, according to Gov. Ralph DLG Torres.<\/p>\n
His administration\u2019s latest move involves a 72-hour work schedule that starts in the June 23 pay period\u2014an unpopular decision. That means no work for those in the Executive Branch every payday Friday.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is definitely the best one [decision],\u201d Torres said. \u201c[Employees] get the whole day off; at that point they will have to spend time with their families and do other things.\u201d<\/p>\n
He said that, before implementing the work hour cut, he consulted with his Cabinet members and talked to some in the private sector. \u201cThe private sector\u2019s only concern is keeping Revenue and Taxation, and Treasury open; so, we\u2019re giving them half-day operations.\u201d<\/p>\n
The administration reportedly needs about $3 million per pay period for the over 3,000 government employees in the Executive Branch. <\/p>\n
If no work-hour reduction is implemented, the government will run out of funds by August, said press secretary Kevin Bautista in a separate interview.<\/p>\n
Torres said the administration\u2019s priority is keeping all of its personnel. \u201cWe wanted to make sure that no one is laid off. That\u2019s the reason why we have this. And, if an eight-hour cut is what we need, then we will do that.\u201d<\/p>\n
He said Super Typhoon Yutu disrupted the CNMI\u2019s economy, on the heels of a record-high gross domestic product and revenues. \u201cYou\u2019ve seen our numbers. \u2026We continue to monitor that. Looking at every number, every angle, and every option that we have, we\u2019ve cut down our operations the last several months. It is still not enough for us to make sure that we don\u2019t layoff anyone.\u201d<\/p>\n
Torres said his administration remains hopeful that things would improve before fiscal year 2019 ends. \u201cWe\u2019re hopeful that it does get better. We\u2019re hoping for that. <\/p>\n
Torres\u2019 directive will have all agencies and departments under his office closing every payday Friday, starting on July 5 and until further notice. <\/p>\n
The Office of Personnel Management will apply the new work schedule to all locally- and federally-funded government employees\u2014in civil service and excepted service in the Executive Branch.<\/p>\n
First responders, law enforcement, treasury cashiers, and other employees with critical government functions will also have a modified 72-hour work schedule to keep needed public services functioning. The directive also includes no accrual and overtime payment, and compensatory time hours, and no new hiring for locally funded positions under the Executive Branch.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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