Businesses told to submit Labor reports

The CNMI Department of Labor announced on Thursday that all businesses shall submit a quarterly report consisting of a Total Workforce Listing and Workforce Plan. In addition, the business must submit an annual Corporate Report and Business License, upon renewal. 

“We have publicly announced these requirements to the business community for more than a year, noting the importance of reliable data regarding the CNMI labor workforce,” said Labor Secretary Vicky Benavente.

Effective immediately, a request for a Certificate of Good Standing, CNMI OSHA Certification, and Job Vacancy Announcement Certification will be denied for any business who fails to submit an updated Total Workforce Listing and Workforce Plan for each quarter in 2018, and for the current year 2019.

In an intradepartmental memo, Benavente ordered the Division of Employment Services, Division of Enforcement and Compliance, and CNMI OSHA Consultation Program to immediately cease issuance of any certificates if a company has not complied with all reporting requirements. Additionally, submission of an incomplete or incorrect Total Workforce Listing and Workforce Plan will be rejected by Labor and returned to the employer for revision.

According to the Northern Mariana Islands Administrative Code 80-20.1-505(b), “Each business employer shall report quarterly, as of the last day of the calendar quarter and within the time limits for filing the business gross receipts tax return, the number and classification of employees for whom wages were paid during the quarter.”

The information is collected and aggregated by the CNMI DOL for statistical and reporting purposes. A Workforce Plan identifies positions occupied by foreign workers and includes a timetable for replacing non-U.S. workers with qualified U.S. workers.

 Benavente stated that the CNMI DOL is moving from a traditional paper file system to a digital document management system in an effort to reduce costs and eliminate waste.

“Businesses may email their Quarterly Documents to documents@marianaslabor.net. The Department of Labor is trying to save the businesses time and costs by avoiding the use of paper printouts,” she noted.

For more information about the reporting requirement or for assistance in filling out the forms, businesses may contact the Division of Employment Services at 664-3190 or 322-0996. (PR)