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Task force to study govt staffing, work hour cuts
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Posted on Feb 22 2006
Gov. Benigno R. Fitial has formed a four-member task force to assess government staffing and the proposed reduction of work hours in the public sector.
The so-called Relief Task Force was created during a Cabinet meeting Tuesday.
The group is composed of special assistant for administration Esther Fleming, special assistant for management and budget Antonio Muna, acting Finance Secretary Eloy Inos, and Personnel Director Mathilda Rosario.
Press secretary Charles P. Reyes Jr. said the task force would look into the government’s work hours, personnel function, redundant positions, and duplication of services.
The members have a week to report their recommendations to the entire Cabinet in a week.
“When the governor receives their report, he will start to make a decision on the reduction of hours. He is looking at that issue very carefully,” Reyes said.
Fitial announced the plan in his weekly press conference Friday.
He said the work hour reduction would affect administrative and non-essential workers. As in other government cost-cutting measures, essential services such as the Department of Public Health, Department of Public Safety, Department of Corrections, Commonwealth Utilities Corporation, and the Public School System would be exempted.
The administration has revised the CNMI government’s revenue projection for fiscal year 2005, from $213 million to $198.5 million.
In view of this, the Fitial government has implemented austerity measures, freezing all travel and hiring, controlling government purchases and vehicle and office space leases.
Government-paid mobile phones were banned and all agencies were instructed to use a centralized telephone system and to reduce or cancel extra phone features.
