Labor problem ‘could have been avoided’

Closer cooperation between federal and local enforcement agencies could have prevented some of the illegal labor practices that have happened the past few months, according to Rep. Joseph Leepan T. Guerrero (R-Saipan) and business proprietor Jim Arenovski.

“I think we should all work collaboratively to come up with solutions so that such practices are not repeated,” Guerrero told Saipan Tribune.

Arenovski, who spoke in last week’s Saipan Chamber of Commerce meeting at the Fiesta Resort & Spa’s Hibiscus Hall, said is it also the duty of the government and business sector to make sure history doesn’t repeat itself.

“We need to have an improved cooperation between local and federal governments. [United States Citizenship and Immigration Services] and CNMI Labor should have discovered the anomaly faster,” said Arenovski.

“We no longer have control of immigration. We need to take action and help. Talk of how we could address the issues. We need to sit down with USCIS and discuss how they could help grow our economy.”

Arenovski just testified before the Senate panel of the Energy and Natural Resources Committee in relation to House Resolution 339 of Delegate Gregorio Kilili C. Sablan (D-MP). HR 339 aims to add 2,002 more slots to the CW1 cap for fiscal year 2017.

Years after its illegal labor problems during the garment industry days, Saipan was thrust into the spotlight again, this time after contractors were found to have brought in construction workers disguised as tourists and using the China visa parole program.

Investigations are now being done by several federal agencies after the issue was uncovered. Things started to unravel after a construction worker was killed at the site of the proposed Imperial Pacific casino-resort.

Guerrero said the Department of Homeland Security should hire more officers for Customs and Border Protection and Immigration and Customs Enforcement. This is truer for CBP since they screen tourists before they are allowed to enter the CNMI.

“Somehow DHS waited too long to address the illegal recruitment. CBP should have known that tourists were being recruited to work as construction workers by a Chinese construction company on the island,” Guerrero said

He added that local and federal agencies involved in labor and immigration could have made routine checks at the construction site to know if the workers are all holders of CW1 permits.

Arenovski said the mood during the Senate hearing was not friendly, as committee chair Sen. Lisa Murkowski and ranking member Sen. Maria Cantwell reminded the CNMI delegation—headed by Gov. Ralph DLG Torres and Sablan—of its past.

“We were sorely reminded of the past and they [Senate] were not happy. That had happened during the garment factory days and we simply can’t allow this to happen again,” said Arenovski.

Guerrero and Arenovski said one solution is to have penalties for every company that violates labor and immigration laws, whether local or federal.

“We should all be part of the solution, regardless as to who is the company or investor that condone such illegal practice by banning the company from doing business in the CNMI,” said Guerrero.

“If that would have been my employees who broke the rules, I’ll let them go. Subcontractors who have been doing so should leave. If we don’t play by the rules, leave,” Arenovski said.