FLASHBACK – Jan. 6, 2012

Garment firms appeal labor cap[/B]

Gov. Pedro P. Tenorio said yesterday he will look into the request of garment manufacturers seeking exemption from a proposed legislation that will put a cap on the number of foreign workers that can be employed in the garment industry. The governor yesterday met with garment representatives who appealed to spare manufacturers from the measure since some members of the industry have already paid for fees that go along with the hiring of workers since last year. According to Tenorio, apparel makers are seeking to ease the restriction in fear that they would not be able to reimburse fees they paid for application and permits pending in the Department of Labor and Immigration once the law in put in place.

A resolution set to be filed at the House of Representatives will press administration officials to strictly implement a package of austerity measures proposed by the Office of the Public Auditor in light of shrinking government revenues. Rep. Melvin Faisao yesterday vowed to pursue the initiative to compel various departments and agencies to reduce their spending amid deepening financial crisis besetting the cash-strapped NMI government. The move followed a recommendation from Public Auditor Leo L. LaMotte sought earlier by the representative, identifying more than $23 million in unessential appropriations under the FY 1999 budget package.

Lack of funds snags street-naming project—Heinz[/B]

Unavailability of funds amounting to $800,000 to $1 million, and not disagreement on proposals, is holding up construction of signposts and nameplates for the much-delayed Saipan streetnaming project. But Rep. Heinz S. Hofschneider, chair of the Saipan and Northern Island Legislative Delegation, said recommendations on the names of the streets will be taken up in the next Legislature in an amendment to the local law signed last year by the governor. . “[The project] needs about $800,000 to $1 million to procure all signposts and signage. That’s holding it up. We need to work together with the Governor’s Office and the Mayor’s office to start procuring those nameplates,” he told reporters yesterday.

Federal Court Judge Alex Munson yesterday ordered five lawyers and their clients, Junior Larry Hillbroom and his guardian Naoko Imeong, to appear in court next month to justify why they should not be held in contempt for violation of earlier orders. Attorneys David J. Lujan, Barry J. Israel, Kevin P.H. Sumida, counsels for the two, and Thomas Tarpley, of the Junior Larry Hillbroom Trust, could face disqualification or suspension from the civil complaint filed by James E. Hollman. If found guilty of contempt of court, they could also be compelled to compensate the plaintiff for losses sustained due to the conduct of the defendants as well as attorney’s fees and expenses. It could also weaken their defense against the case alleging bad faith litigation.

Employer, workers, penalized for violating labor laws[/B]

The Department of Labor and Immigration has fined and banned an employer from hiring nonresident workers for three years following findings that she and four of her nonresidents workers engaged in an illegal business transaction three years ago. DOLI hearing officer Vincent Kaipat said in a recent administrative order that employer Mercelita L. Maglalang of defunct Taurus Auto Repair Shop, did not only employ workers but also made them her business partners. Seman said documents showed that Maglalang conspired with the four to reopen the auto repair shop in January 1999.

The University of Phoenix will be coming to Saipan next month to explain how people can earn their bachelor’s or master’s degree without leaving work or the comforts of their home. The University of Phoenix said it will be holding an information meeting on February 5 and 6 at the Hyatt Regency Hotel on Saipan, from 6pm to 10pm, to answer all questions that people may have about earning a high-quality degree online, in the most efficient way possible. “At this informal information meeting, we’ll demonstrate first-hand how convenient our online format really is. We’ll answer all your questions about scheduling classes, transferring credits, receiving credits for prior work experience, and finance options,” reads part of the statement.