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Automated labor, immigration processing up by ’05
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Posted on Oct 22 2004
A fully automated and “revolutionized” processing at the Department of Labor and the Division of Immigration is expected to begin by January 2005.
Governor consultant Adam Turner said during Thursday’s Cabinet meeting that by early next year, processing of labor permit applications will all be done electronically.
“Labor automation process is to be implemented by [January] 2005. It’s automation of all labor functions. It will revolutionize how we do things at Labor,” he said.
Turner said the new system would “eliminate corruption” since the process involves mainly computers.
“Cards will be issued automatically. It eliminates corruption because no one can touch the records,” he said.
Further, he said the new system would result in employers having the option to apply online.
“There would be no more paperwork. Companies can apply online,” he said.
This came after the U.S. Department of the Interior released some $600,000 to improve the Commonwealth’s labor and immigration system through plans that include the automation of labor processing.
Some $500,000 was used to improve the CNMI’s labor and immigration system and the remaining $100,000 went to Karidat Social Services to assist displaced nonresident workers.
The planned automation would electronically link Labor with the Attorney General’s Office and the Immigration Division.
Part of the funding is to allow DOL to hire more hearing officers to expedite the hearing process involving nonresident workers.
Currently, DOL has only two full-time and two part-time administrative hearing officers.
The lack of hearing officers had resulted in a backlog of labor cases, with some being resolved after three years or more.
Meantime, DOL Secretary Joaquin A. Tenorio reported yesterday that his department has noticed several “copycat” complaints from nonresident workers.
“We’ve got 20 or more workers having the same complaints and it is repeated by other private individuals against other companies. And these are frivolous complaints,” he said.
Tenorio said that, as of this month, the department has generated $5.3 million from applications.
He said the amount is about $43,000 more than last year’s income.
