Labor reform badly needed

Letters to the Editor
Monday, April 20, 2009



I must say that I was very impressed when I walked into Super Fresh Market. I saw nothing but local employees. This just shows that the mentality that locals are lazy is just plain wrong. Super Fresh Market is a business that is in touch with today's CNMI. Unfortunately, our labor laws are out of touch with today's CNMI. Currently, only a measly 20 percent resident hire is required for private businesses. Resident workers must cover their own medical expenses, while contract workers enjoy having their medical expenses paid for by their employers. Federalization has been delayed for six months. Labor reform is needed to protect our resident workforce. Increase the mandatory resident hire from 20 percent to 35 percent. The upcoming minimum wage increases will entice more residents to turn to the private sector, while the government continues to threaten employees with austerity measures such as austerity Fridays, layoffs, and unpaid holidays. Aren't the laws supposed to protect the resident workforce as well or are they only meant to protect the nonresidents? There is nothing wrong with having nonresident workers. The only problem is, they outnumber the resident workers big time. The more resident workers we employ, the more money gets invested in the CNMI. Less money would leave the CNMI for the Philippines, China, Korea, Bangladesh, Nepal, etc.

Kudos to Kagman Joeten, Kagman Mobil, Super Fresh Market and other businesses for supporting the local workforce. Kudos to Northern Marianas Trades Institute for training resident workers to replace the nonresident workers in the vocational field.

Support the local workforce. Support local products. Support local services. Support local education. Export more, import less. It is for the sake of our economy.

Jesse Torres
Kagman