NMI businesses working with DOL during recovery

Labor Secretary Vicky Benavente recently appeared before the Saipan Chamber of Commerce general membership and announced that the CNMI Department of Labor has already been receiving notices from local businesses severely impacted by Super Typhoon Yutu.

In her report, several businesses adversely affected by Super Typhoon Yutu are unable to meet payroll, which has prompted CNMI DOL to take significant measures to mitigate both infrastructural and economic losses.

E-Land (Kensington, Pacific Islands Club, Coral Ocean Point), POI Aviation, Laolao Bay Golf & Resort, and Imperial Pacific International (CNMI) LLC have notified CNMI DOL that they will lay off employees and reduce working hours.

“Several IPI employees recently staged a protest in front of the IPI facility in Garapan. Before the protest on Friday, about two dozen IPI employees visited the DOL office, and we are dealing with the situation thoroughly,” said Benavente. “The DOL Enforcement Division is investigating the IPI employee protest and will provide an update shortly.”

CNMI DOL surveyed more than 60 businesses with approximately 1,300 employees that are affected by the massive infrastructure damage on Saipan and Tinian, the closure of the Francisco C. Ada/Saipan International Airport, and the cancellation of visitor arrivals from key travel markets. 

“Hundreds of residents are having to cope with the loss of their homes and personal belongings, on top of having their work hours reduced. CNMI DOL has taken proactive measures to ensure that employees’ concerns will be addressed through a variety of programs that we requested and applied for from the U.S. Department of Labor,” said Benavente.

These programs include the Disaster Unemployment Assistance, which has already seen 2,000 applications distributed and/or submitted to CNMI DOL.

USDOL and DUA staff will likely be on Saipan around the first week of December to assist in the administration of the program. 

Majority of DUA applicants work in the following businesses: tour operators, casino, hotels, real estate, catering, poker arcade, and gas station. Job classifications include: mechanic, cook, driver, dealer, room attendants, and tour guides. 

Unemployment numbers are being compiled by DOL in order to avail of the disaster benefits to be provided by the U.S. Department of Labor Employment and Training Administration. 

CNMI residents are encouraged to apply for Disaster Unemployment Assistance at the DOL office at Springs Plaza, Middle Road, next to the Bank of Hawaii. Contact numbers are 664-1708 and 788-4180/4183. (PR)