The Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands in Transition
The Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) underwent a period of transition due to the impact of various agreements and laws such as the Covenant Agreement, US PL 110-229, and the CNRA Consolidated Natural Resources Act. This transition involved changes in the garment industry, immigration control, and the status of foreign workers. The CNMI faced challenges in adapting to new regulations and requirements, with deadlines set for foreign worker transitions. Understand more about the CNMI's history and the shifts leading up to the crucial period of 2014.
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THE COMMONWEALTH OF THE NORTHERN MARIANA ISLANDS (CNMI) A PERIOD OF TRANSITION
Where we were before WTO (2005) and US PL 110-229 Local immigration control 1978-2009 The CNMI had 34 garment factories $80M direct revenue from the garment industry 40,420 were employed in 2004
The 1976 Covenant Agreement CNMI Self governance US citizenship Exemption from federal immigration laws and certain federal minimum wage provisions US Foreign Affairs and Defense Right to apply federal law in exempted areas without consent
US PL 110-229 CNRA Consolidated Natural Resources Act Came into effect 2009 CNMI umbrella permits issued 2009-2011 to allow legal status of foreign workers in the CNMI Calls for the transition of foreign workers by December 2014 Pending 5 year extension request approval from US Secretary of Labor or July 5, 2014 5 year extension if approved will end 2019
Approved CWs for CNMI A Gradual Reduction DHS CNMI Only Non-Immigrant CWs 25,000 22,417 22,416 20,000 15,000 14,000 15,000 10,000 5,000 0 FY 2011 FY 2012 FY 2013 FY 2014 Fiscal Year
Number of CWs Issued to Date 10, 655 - As of December 24, 2013 FY 12 7054 approved beneficiaries (FOIA) FY 13 - 9617 approve beneficiaries (FOIA) Total FY 12/FY 13 Combined 16,671 (FOIA) Number of Foreign Workers in CNMI Year 2012 Year 2011 Year 2010 16,743 Year 2009 18,053 14,199 17,073
Unified Concerns 5 year extension request CNRA requires US Secretary of Labor (Tom Perez) to decide 180 days prior to December 31, 2014 or July 5, 2014 US Immigration Reform House version (Gang of Seven) Senate version S.744 500 E2-C Investor Visas Minimum wage S.256
Transition Time Clocks December 2014 December 2019
We have to be Bullish Pre/During/Post Transition
Our Strategies Governor s Target 2014 Task Force was formed CNMI Labor law amended to require all JVAs to be posted on the CNMI DOL Job Bank (Jan, 31, 2014 effective) Sector trainings on-going CNMI DOL transformation initiatives on-going CNMI DOL Enforcement Activities Increased Job Fairs conducted on Saipan, Rota and Tinian Invoked Freedom of Information Act (FOIA)
Saipan Job Fair Results (Nov. 2013) Not Registered with DOL, 105 Working , 48 Blank , 177 Registered with DOL, 175 Blank, 30 Not Working , 404 High School Graduate, 319 No NAP, 249 NAP Recipient, 178 Non High School Graduate, 125 US Citizen, 338 Blank, 383 Greencard, 9 FAS Citizen, 14 Both, 28 Female, 267 Non US Citizen, 85 SHEFA, 15 Not A CNMI Scholarship Recipient, 31 Veteran, 432 Male, 182 16-19 Yrs, 50 Veteran, 17 65+ , 3 40-44, 24 45-49, 17 50-54, 10 30-34, 24 35-39, 20 55- 59, 8 20-24, 88 Blank Age, 182 25-29, 24 60-64, 3
