Teno: We’re making progress in reforms

Amid fresh allegations on labor abuses and proliferation of sweatshops in the Northern Marianas, Gov. Pedro P. Tenorio said yesterday that his administration is making headway in addressing the problems.

The governor made the statement in light of media reports in the US mainland attacking the Commonwealth for allowing such situation to continue in a US territory.

“We’re making progress in reforms. There are less complaints now,” he said.

“My administration is trying its best to stop some of these problems and abuses that have been identified,” the CNMI leader said in an interview, as he noted that cooperation with the federal government has helped the CNMI in dealing with the problems. “We’re trying to get those people who violated the CNMI and federal laws.”

According to Tenorio, there is nothing new about the allegations on labor abuse since most of these are based on cases which were reported prior to his assumption into office in 1998.

“We never denied that there was labor abuse here. However, most of these that they continue to bring up happened five, six years ago,” he said.

“We put all our efforts to reform our labor and immigration. We cannot eradicate the problems overnight,” Tenorio added, as he issued fresh warnings against employers that they would be prosecuted and face business closure if they are found to have violated the laws.

The Commonwealth and the federal government have been fighting for control over local labor and immigration due to Washington’s discontent over the handling of these functions by CNMI officials.

Several legislations have been filed in the US Congress which seek to impose federal immigration, minimum wage and customs laws on the Northern Marianas.

But local officials such move would adversely impact on the fragile island economy, largely dependent on tourism and garment. They say the proposal would scare businessmen and further hurt CNMI’s economy.

Tenorio said since he took office he has put in place a package of reforms to address the concerns raised by the federal government. He cited the repatriation program that provides free return ticket and salaries to foreign workers who were abandoned by their employers.

“I hate to see people being abused or not getting their salaries. We do not condone such kind of things,” he said.

On reports that workers have to pay as much as $10,000 to be able to get a job in the Northern Marianas, Tenorio said the issue is best addressed by the governments of the guest workers. “If they have complaints they should complain to their government because they were cheated by people from their own country.”