RP labor office conducts nightclub inspections

Keeping up with its commitment to ensure the welfare of Filipino workers in the Northern Marianas, the Philippine Overseas Labor Office has resumed visitations of worksites which kicked off with a round of nightclubs employing Filipino entertainers.

Labor Attaché lawyer Araceli Maraya said two nightclubs that were visited last week passed the standards called for by Philippine labor laws that were installed to protect the interest and well-being of Filipino workers especially those working at nightclubs.

“Our entertainers were found to be performing decently as guaranteed in their employment contract. The dance routine appeared to be really choreographed complemented by costumes,” said Ms. Maraya of the inspected nightclubs.

She pointed out that the worksite visitation is part of the POLO’s program which aims to ensure that the welfare and interest of Filipino workers on the island are protected, and that their rights are observed.

Ms. Maraya was joined by Philippine Consul Julia C. Heidemann and other consulate and RP labor officials in the visitation of two nightclubs in the commercial and tourist district of Garapan Tuesday night.

“We are doing the visitation at random. We have actually visited other worksites previously and we intend to continue with the program because it sure reaps healthy results both for our workers and the employers who have been very cooperative,” she added.

At the same time, Ms. Heidemann disclosed that the inspection of the two nightclubs were made in response to the club owners’ request for assistance in the fast-tracked processing of the entertainers certification by the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration.

She explained that Filipino entertainers are required to undergo training back home before they are issued the Artist Registry Book, which delays the processing of their employment contract and permit in the CNMI.

Ms. Heidemann said some club owners have asked the Consulate to help them secure certification from the Philippines’ TESDA for their choreographer who will, in turn, train their Saipan-bound entertainers.

The Consulate recently held an orientation seminar designed to familiarize Filipino club workers in the Northern Marianas on ways to deal with their unique situation in the workplace.

The series of orientation seminars for Filipinos deployed in CNMI’s numerous nightclubs, who are mostly women working as either waitresses or guest relations officers, started in September.

“The series of orientation lectures which we propose to be included or given emphasis in the seminar include an outline of what should the workers expect from their employment and what their rights and responsibilities are,” Ms. Heidemann said.

She told an interview that the orientation seminar is also being cooked up to reach out to a significant number of club workers who failed to attend the Pre-Departure Orientation Seminar required by the Philippine government to all outbound Filipino workers.

The orientation seminar features lectures from officials of the Philippine Overseas Labor Office and the CNMI Department of Labor and Immigration, as well as the United States Department of Labor.