Pregnancy bill faces overhaul

Changes will be made to legislation freeing employers from paying full medical costs of their pregnant nonresident workers, according to its author Rep. Dino M. Jones who claimed it has drawn wide support in the community.

He said the amendments would tie the proposal to child support laws placing the burden to the father as well as to labor regulations permitting transfer of employees to another employer.

The House Committee on Judiciary and Government Operations is expected to conduct public hearings on the three islands to gather inputs from members of the community as well as government agencies, the representative said.

Following criticisms from Bishop Tomas A. Camacho against the measure, Mr. Jones clarified that it is not his intention to discriminate against pregnant women, especially guest workers who are its target.

He claimed the bill will provide for a cost-sharing agreement between employees and employers regarding costs of the pregnancy or childbirth

“She will not be terminated if she gets pregnant,” the lawmaker told in an interview.
If they disagree on cost-sharing, either party can terminate the contract, and not only the employer. If that happens, then the employee will have that right to transfer to another employer within the permissible period provided under CNMI laws, added Mr. Jones.

He said the employer will also be given the right to get a replacement, either locally or from abroad, he said.

“I did not say that it’s not right for a woman to be pregnant or have a child. What I said is that it is not right for a woman to be pregnant and let the employer be responsible for it,” Mr. Jones pointed out.

If they disagree, the employer can just terminate. Both parties can terminate under the proposed amendment, claimed the JGO chair. “If the employee disagrees with the employer, she can resign and look for another employer,” he said.

Mr. Jones decried the criticisms leveled against his proposal, alleging that most of them were a result of misleading reports on what the bill stands for.

“The bill is not going to be discriminatory because the woman also has the right to terminate her employment. If she loses the job, the father should support the child.
Women and mothers should go to the Attorney General’s Office and request for assistance to make sure that fathers pay for child support,” he said.