Previous Story
Customs renews call for restoration of 80 hours biweekly
|
Posted on Feb 18 2012
Corrects number of smuggled cigarettes to 4,000 cartons
By Haidee V. Eugenio
Reporter
Reporter
Customs Services Division officials and employees renewed their call for the restoration of 80 hours work biweekly during a public hearing yesterday on a bill seeking to allow promotions with salary increases.
Customs director Jesus Muña, at the same time, said the volume of smuggled cigarettes is 4,000 cartons that were seized on Tuesday, correcting the earlier figure of nearly 5,000 cartons that Customs provided. The cigarettes were hidden beneath chips and crackers
“All we want is for the austerity to be lifted for Customs,” Muna told Saipan Tribune.
Customs is understaffed, and there are over 10 vacant positions that were funded but were not filled because of hiring timeframe requirements.
The division only has 42 personnel, including the director and those currently assigned to a federal-local task force. Muna said the division needs at least 64 personnel.
Because of 64 work hours biweekly, Customs has limited personnel at any given work shift.
Rep. Ray Basa (R-Saipan), meanwhile, said his House Ways and Means Committee is poised to recommend the filing of Senate Bill 17-93 which seeks to amend a law to allow promotions with salary increases, given the government’s current financial state.
Finance Secretary Larrisa Larson and Office of Management and Budget’s Vicky Villagomez also expressed reservation about the bill, saying the government has no funding to increase salaries at a time when work hours could not even be restored to 80 hours biweekly.
But Basa and Rep. Ray Yumul (R-Saipan) reiterated their support for Customs to have an 80-hour work week because of the critical nature of their function, including ensuring that imported goods coming into the CNMI are taxed and free of illegal drugs, among other things.
