Guest workers are helpless!

I know most of the guest workers nowadays would just want to raise the white flag up and surrender and for a good reason. A good number the guest workers have been cheated and not paid. The Department of Labor gave them an Administrative Order proving that they were owed wages but instead of directing the bonding companies to pay them, the guest workers have been told to file in the small claims court to pursue the collection. I’m curious if anyone in the government cares about the success rate, meaning what percent of these awarded unpaid wages are actually collected. As far as I know, this issue is almost as good as dead. It dies from the time DOL said they’re not a collection agency. Most of the guest workers don’t have money to pay for filing the case. There are those who don’t know how or where to start. As far as they know, somebody owes them money and they are keeping their administrative orders safely in their pockets. They don’t even know that after six years, those Administrative Orders won’t mean a thing.

Meanwhile, these guest workers have to leave the CNMI because their contracts are not renewed and they cannot find a new employer. With them as they leave is a piece of paper saying they have money. These people would always tell me they have money but only in paper. Sad story!

Believe it or not, I look at things as fairly as possible but there are things that leave some questions in my mind. For example, how accurate really is the data of DOL? I heard not only once that the notices of denial which they publish in the newspaper have names of guest workers who are either long gone, have permits already released, etc.

I understand that DOL wants to eliminate illegal sponsorships, which I fully support, but in the process do they not hurt those who are legitimate employers? I’m sorry to say that guest workers feel that the system for the most part is heartless and without mercy. Perhaps we are wrong but we are waiting for a glimpse, no matter how small, of any reason for us to believe that we are being treated fairly.

While contemplating what the guest workers should do to be treated as accepted partners, willing to work and not against our host, like a child making a list for Santa this Christmas, here are my wishes:

a) For Cinta Kaipan to realize that she’s working at Labor and given that, she should show impartiality. Notwithstanding her personal views, as long as she’s speaking as a Labor employee, she should maintain the appearance of independence. Though guest workers should be going to DOL for labor questions or complaints, we don’t because we fear Cinta Kaipat. I pray that instead of building fear among the guest workers, she will bridge the gap so the resident and nonresident workers can understand how each can compliment the other and work in harmony.

b) That DOL will set up their system for e-filing of labor complaints since they are now requiring employers and employees to have e-mail addresses.

c) That Labor Director Barry Hirshbein will remember that he told us one time that guest workers should not be sent home as long as there is a willing employer. From what I understand, the federal government and the local government capped the guest workers at 22,417 to make sure that there is enough guest workers in place when federal takes over next year. I wish that DOL would allow the guest workers who have been here on island for five, 10, 15 years or more to stay if there are employers who are willing to hire them and not deport them. I hope that it’s not their objective to reduce the number of long-term guest workers to only a few so nobody will qualify if the federal government will give a better status to long-term guest workers.

d) As a community, that we accept the fact that times are changing and it will work best to our advantage if we only accept to co-exist harmoniously.

By now, I am resigned to the fact that there are people who consider guest workers as intruders and, like leeches, are just sucking whatever these islands can give us. I am not losing hope, though, that one day they will realize that we are also human beings, with feelings. And while it’s true that we need the CNMI so we can afford to give better lives to our families back home, the CNMI benefits from our contribution as well.

A pastor in a local church once told me that he knows God will bless CNMI if we stop withholding blessings for other people. Put simply, God blesses those who know how to share their blessings.