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Kilili: Worker rules likely out next week
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Posted on Aug 31 2011
Delegate Gregorio Kilili Sablan (Ind-MP) said yesterday that the long-awaited Commonwealth-only transitional worker rules will likely be released next week or at least before Sept. 15.
“I’m certain it would be by Sept 15. I’m hoping it’s this week but I don’t think so. …More likely next week,” Sablan said during a news conference at his office in Susupe to announce an additional $1 million in CNMI food stamp funding for fiscal year 2012 as a result of his request to U.S. Food and Nutrition Services administrator Audrey Rowe.
Sablan said the U.S. Department of Homeland Security will send a team to the CNMI after Sept. 15 to do outreach on the CW rule.
He said one of the things he has asked DHS is to include “caretakers” among those to be covered by the CW rule.
Sablan said the CNMI has lots of elderly, children, and other community members who need caretakers or companions who are not necessarily nurses. He said the lack of nursing homes on the islands requires caretakers for the elderly.
“I’m pleading with DHS to include caretakers under CW regulations because initially they don’t have plans to [cover them],” he added.
Sablan said those eligible to apply for H visas “should start planning for H visa that’s why we need the prevailing wage survey. The [Saipan] Chamber of Commerce is working hard on that.”
He also said that by now, CNMI employers should already determine “how many employees they need” and “how many they can afford.”
Sablan reiterated yesterday that there will be no mass deportation of foreign workers even if Nov. 28 comes and the applications for their CW visas are still pending.
DHS’ U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services said it will be sending representatives to the CNMI to help in the education campaign once the CW regulations are published.
Marie Thérèse Sebrechts, regional media manager for USCIS, said the outreach team includes USCIS district director David Gulick, a community relations officer, a press officer, an officer from the California Service Center division that handles CNMI applications, and staff members from the USCIS legal counsel and policy who are familiar with the CNMI regulations.
