Displaced workers still prefer Karidat

Despite earlier complaints against Karidat, some displaced nonresident workers would rather get federal financial aid through this agency rather than the Attorney General’s Office, signing a petition expressing such a sentiment.

As of Monday, the petition has already gathered 91 signatures.

Johnny Rebamba, one of the petitioners, said Monday that they would bring the petition letter to Gov. Juan N. Babauta today.

He said most claimants feel that AGO has more restrictive rules in releasing the assistance.

“We, the undersigned displaced workers of mixed origin, would like to appeal to your good office to please continue helping us through the Karidat Social Service, which from the start of our complaint helped us without any restrictive condition,” reads a portion of the one-page petition to Babauta.

The AGO had earlier said that its new financial aid program for displaced workers does not replace similar programs being administered by other agencies and social service providers. The AGO said it gets its funding from the U.S. Department of the Interior’s Insular Affairs Office.

Karidat used to receive $100,000 from the same office to specifically help displaced alien workers. Karidat has stopped giving out relief assistance to affected workers beginning this month, reportedly in view of the AGO’s new program.

The AGO program consists of a one-time payment of $200, to be used exclusively for food, shelter or other necessities.

The AGO advised workers seeking aid under the program to visit the Office of the Federal Ombudsman to fill out applications forms. Filled out forms will be forwarded to the AGO for eligibility determination.

The AGO said the forms are also available at the Chinese Economic Development Association and the CNMI Department of Labor.

The AGO said a worker seeking assistance is required to provide proof of eligibility, and may also be required to reimburse the fund in the event the worker becomes employed.

At Karidat, workers get $30 to $50 voucher per visit. They do not get regular monthly aid.

Several months ago, some workers had complained that Karidat, although funded, would decline assisting some claimants. Other workers had complained that they would wait for hours outside Karidat’s office, only to get nothing in return. They had also alleged that there was discrimination in the release of assistance at Karidat.

The non-profit organization had consistently denied the workers’ allegations.

Meantime, the AGO said that aid is available for workers if their employer has ceased operations or left the jurisdiction without fully compensating the workers, and failed to repatriate the workers, terminate contracts in the manner required by law, or without providing for adequate food and shelter for a reasonable period of time after closure.

It said that humanitarian aid may also be available for other aliens “when circumstances show they are without food and shelter due to circumstances occurring outside the labor laws.”