Lawmakers commit to pro-business stance

Members of the Legislature yesterday committed to support institution of business-friendly measures, amid an uproar from the business community due to the Senate’s delayed action on the repeal of the three-year limit law.

Gov. Pedro P. Tenorio met with legislators yesterday for a possible compromise measure that will ensure the Commonwealth’s economic growth despite the existence of what the business leaders claimed are restrictive policies.

Senate President Paul Manglona told reporters in an interview that the upper chamber will not only pass a bill that will be advantageous to the Northern Marianas but one that will satisfy the concerns of the business sector.

The Senate is carefully considering three alternatives for the three-year limit law, including the proposed creation of a task force to study the impact of Public Law 11-69.

Under the proposal, there will be a two-year suspension for the full implementation of the three-year stay limit while the task force conducts an analysis on the adverse effect of the exodus of nonresident workers.

In addition to this, Mr. Manglona said even the proposed exemption for several hundreds of nonresident workers will also be reviewed to come up with a relatively beneficial bill.

He said all other options will be carefully studied as the Senate meets today to craft an alternative measure in response to the clamor of the business sector to amend the stay-limit law.

Under PL 11-69 guest workers staying in the Commonwealth for three years have to leave when the statute takes effect by 2002. The law also orders workers to stay outside the Commonwealth for six months before they can be employed again.

Businessmen are expected to come in troops today for the deliberations following a series of meetings held between legislators and concerned investors.

Investors were earlier urged to enforce a major lobbying strategy at the Legislature to manifest support for the amendments on the three-year limit of nonresident workers.

“This is a serious matter, we have to lobby hard to keep non-resident workers, they are needed at hospitals, schools, utility corporation,.. they provide stability and have loyalty to their work,” businessman Anthony Pellegrino said.

He said it is high time that businessmen go up to the Legislature and be heard and make their concerns known to assist legislators to reach a firm decision on the said matter.

Businesses and the education sector both believe that once resident workers leave Northern Marianas, industries will collapse and aggravate the current economic condition of CNMI.

Aside from the chamber, private schools have also signified intention to support the calls for amendments of PL 11-69. Mt. Carmel School administration voiced out concerns on possible exodus of nonresident teachers once the law is implemented next year. (EGA)