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Governor avows policy on nondiscriminatory hirings
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Posted on Mar 03 2006
Gov. Benigno R. Fitial has reaffirmed the CNMI government’s policy on equal employment opportunity and directed all government agencies to establish and implement individual EEO rules.
Fitial said that the government would not tolerate discrimination in the hiring process or in the treatment of its employees. He added that the government would vigorously enforce a policy of non-tolerance for sexual harassment in the workplace and among the government workforce.
“It is my firm belief and the policy of this administration that those residents of the Commonwealth who are legally entitled to work for the Commonwealth government will be considered equally and indiscriminately, in accordance with relevant statutes, for employment and advancement in the government services. Similarly, every employee of the government possesses the right to a workplace free from threat, harassment, or coercion,” he said in Directive 250.
The governor, who also serves as the equal employment opportunity officer of the CNMI, appointed the Personnel director as the deputy EEO officer.
He said the Personnel director, in turn, should appoint an EEO coordinator in the Office of Personnel Management to provide the Personnel director and other key government officials with expert advice, analysis, and evaluation of EEO matters.
The Personnel director was also told to appoint EEO coordinators in the OPM on Tinian and Rota.
Each government entity was required to create a similar organization, issue a formal EEO policy statement, and establish implementation procedures.
The EEP program should provide an administrative procedure for settling complaints of discrimination with regard to government employment or personnel practices, the governor said.
“I expect all management staff to support this program fully and wholeheartedly in all hiring and employment processes. Your participation in this program must not be just minimal compliance with federal and Commonwealth EEO laws; it must be the daily fulfillment of an obligation of fair treatment to all citizens of the Commonwealth,” Fitial said in the directive.
