Survey forms on prevailing wages in NMI out today

The Saipan Chamber of Commerce will begin distributing today, July 18, the 2011 Survey of Wages, Salaries & Benefits survey forms to conduct the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands’ first prevailing wage survey. The survey reports can be used in establishing prevailing wage rate determinations for CNMI employers applying for USCIS employment visas for existing and future foreign workers.

The electronic email announcement will be distributed by the Guam Employers Council, contracted by SCC to conduct the survey. For those companies, organizations and other business and government entities wishing to receive faxed or hard copies, SCC will be distributing the same material for those that submit a request.

The material will include a cover letter and instructions with links to forms and instructions. These include a section listing job titles and descriptions (Standard Occupational Classifications), the data entry form for wages and salaries and the data entry form for benefits. Employers can choose to respond electronically or by fax.

The cover letter states there is no charge for participating in the survey, and in return for those that return a complete response, the participant will receive the Summary Wage & Salary Report and the Summary Benefits Report free of charge. Others that choose not to participate in the survey cannot utilize the report for 60 days from distribution. SCC believes this incentive will produce a better survey sampling.

The Chamber has engaged the services of The Guam Employers Council to manage the project. The survey is intended to measure compensation and benefit patterns in the public and private sectors. Confidentiality in the project is paramount. The reports will be copyrighted for the benefit of those that participate in the survey.

For purposes of future employment under U.S. visa requirements, SCC is surveying the wages of workers similarly employed in the area of intended employment. By “similarly employed,” SCC means having substantially comparable jobs in the occupational category in the area of intended employment. All participating company employees will be surveyed.

SCC president Douglas Brennan has been encouraged by the response from CNMI employers and employees at this undertaking, stating, “SCC expects to produce reports that will protect our local work force, as well as provide employers prevailing wage rates that truly reflect current conditions in the CNMI, not the mainland, Hawaii or Guam.”

Brennan stressed the importance of getting the project completed as soon as possible. “Businesses cannot stay in business unless they have a chance to compete. This survey is a good shot right now at keeping costs reflective of our own circumstances. Not those of another economy,” he said.

SCC reports a directory of those to be sent survey forms and instructions at well over 300. For those interested in participating and receiving copies of the report when completed, contact the Saipan Chamber of Commerce at 233-7150/7152 or at coordinator@saipanchamber.com. For Rota and Tinian, Phillip Mendiola-Long at the Tinian Chamber of Commerce will coordinate with SCC. [B][I](SCC)[/I][/B]