Govt, private employees thanked for their patience, resiliency

As the CNMI joins the nation in observing Labor Day, acting governor Eloy S. Inos thanked government and private sector employees for their patience, understanding and resiliency in the face of work hour cuts, unpaid holidays and delayed payrolls.

Today is another unpaid government holiday, sending many employees on a three-day weekend.

For some in the private sector, joblessness has become inevitable because of the weak economy.

“We want to express our appreciation for their patience and we congratulate them for another year of resiliency. And we’re not just hoping, but we’re trying our best to try to bring more investments, bring more activity to the islands so we can generate the kind of revenue that will support the community,” Inos said in an interview on Saturday about his Labor Day message.

Since June 2010, thousands of so-called non-critical government employees have been experiencing delayed payrolls.

Many of them are also subjected to 16-hour work cuts biweekly and unpaid holidays since the start of fiscal year 2011 on Oct. 1.

These cuts are expected to continue into fiscal year 2012 as part of the government’s austerity measures to be able to live within its $102 million budget, down from the revised budget of $122 million in 2011.

The Legislature said in January that there could be 3,000 to 4,000 unemployed residents based on the number of food stamp recipients without jobs.

Rabby Syed, president of the United Workers Movement-NMI, also thanked nonresident workers yesterday for their continued contributions to the CNMI’s economic development, and to not lose hope for improved immigration status, especially those who have been in the CNMI for at least five years.

“Now is the time to be more united,” he said, referring to the release next week of the transitional Commonwealth-only worker regulations that will set out requirements for foreign workers to be able to work in the CNMI until 2014 without an H visa, among other things.

Syed said that, while many will be covered by the CW regulations, many will not.

“For those who won’t be covered, we’re still working to help them. I will bring their plight to the Obama administration and the U.S. Congress in Washington, D.C. We will continue to request for improved immigration status, particularly green card, pathway to U.S. citizenship,” he said.

Syed will be off to Washington, D.C. on Sept. 30 to seek an audience with Congress members to introduce legislation on the U.S. Interior’s recommendation to Congress to allow the granting of improved status for foreign workers who have been in the CNMI for at least five years.

“If they have stories or letters they want to share with Washington, D.C., they can give it to me, or call me at 888-4025,” he added.

Instead of a peaceful march or a prayer vigil to mark Labor Day, Syed said UWM will only be asking its members to pray for a better community for everyone and to not lose hope.