NMI, RP to sign labor pact in Manila

A five-man delegation from the Northern Marianas is flying to Manila in two weeks to finalize the amendment to the existing labor agreement between the Commonwealth and the Philippine governments.

CNMI officials are scheduled to meet with their Philippine counterparts on Nov. 20 and 21 in Manila for the formal signing of the amendments to the Bilateral Labor Agreement which officially closes the Commonwealth Liaison Office in Makati City.

Labor and Immigration Secretary Mark Zachares will lead the CNMI delegation that will also include the labor director, an assistant attorney general and a representative from the office of Gov. Pedro P. Tenorio.

Philippines Labor Attaché lawyer Araceli Maraya said changes to the existing bilateral agreement was made to provide better protection to an estimated 20,000 Filipino workers in the Northern Marianas, as well as prevent the entry of illegal workers.

Ms. Maraya disclosed that the draft of the amended labor agreement with the Commonwealth has already been forwarded to the Department of Foreign Affairs for review and additional input.

Philippines and CNMI labor officials have agreed to amend the existing Memorandum of Agreement during a recent consultative meeting by Labor Undersecretary Felicisimo Joson with Mr. Tenorio and other Commonwealth officials.

Philippines labor officials have lauded the reforms undertaken by the Tenorio Administration which, they said, reaffirms the Commonwealth’s commitment at providing migrant workers here with adequate means of protection against labor abuses.

During their recent meeting on Saipan, both the Philippines and CNMI delegations have agreed to amend certain provisions of the existing bilateral labor agreement. The amended agreement is expected to be signed in Manila by November.

A technical committee composed of labor officials from each government has been tasked to spell out the details of the agreement.

One of the amendment to the bilateral agreement is the guarantee that the issuance by the POEA of the Overseas Employment Certificate would ensure that the workers are fully covered by a contract endorsed and approved by the CNMI government.

Officials said this would also discourage illegal entry of Filipino workers into the Northern Marianas. This would stop plain tourists from coming in and working on the island without being processed by the POEA and the corresponding clearance from the Philippines government.

A permanent commission represented by officials from the CNMI and the Philippines had also been created and is set to meet each year alternately on Saipan and in Manila.