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Furloughed govt workers fully restored to 80 hours
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Posted on Mar 22 2021
A total of 180 government employees that have been furloughed have been reinstated to their jobs, thanks to the expected infusion of $515 million from the American Rescue Plan that the CNMI will get to fund government operations.
Gov. Ralph DLG Torres issued last Friday a directive that reinstates these employees in the government payroll, and also put back all government employees, excluding those in autonomous agencies, to full 80-hour work weeks.
In a directive to all government agency heads, Torres said he and Lt. Gov. Arnold I. Palacios are proud to announce that the CNMI has been able to secure funding to not only cancel the reduction-in-force process and recall the furloughed employees, but to return all employees to full 80-hour weeks.
The effective date starts with pay period beginning March 28, 2021
All government agencies, excluding autonomous agencies, who have employees undergoing RIF or still have furloughed employees are directed to contact and coordinate with the Office of Personnel Management or work with their personnel offices to end the RIF process.
He said all government agencies, excluding autonomous agencies, are further directed to have all remaining furloughed employees returned to duty starting with the pay period beginning March 28, 2021.
Torres said all government agency heads, excluding those of autonomous agencies, to return all employees to full 80-hour work weeks starting with the pay period beginning March 28, 2021.
“The lieutenant governor and I thank all of the employees for their sacrifice and understanding over the course of this very difficult year and for working together to see our community safely through this pandemic,” Torres said.
Torres issued a directive last Feb. 9 that initiated RIF procedures for civil service employees due to the continued lack of tourists and a depressed economy. That meant 180 government employees who were on furloughs were to be permanently terminated from their jobs.
In his directive last Friday, the governor said it was always the administration’s intention to cancel the RIF and bring back all furloughed employees if funding becomes available.
