I've written an analysis about Jacinta Kaipat's latest ploy to have our CNMI Legislature enact hiring "benchmarks" to "prioritize" hiring U.S. citizens. It's posted at the MLSC blog, DAY IN COURT.
The link to the original Marianas Variety article in that post doesn't work just yet, but I'm trying to get that fixed. (You'd think it would be easy, but alas--computer issues today.)
The federalization of immigration brings with it a host of changes, including the need to change our thinking to equal opportunity, non-discriminatory employment practices. Obviously, some people are having a much harder time letting go of the past than others.
Eventually, though, I think we will have a community that is more self-sufficient than at present. I think we will have more opportunities for better jobs for everyone here. I hope that what foreign workers we have in the future will have rights and jobs that pay for the value of their services. This will all take some committment to free and fair enterprise.
If we build our community on values that embrace equality, freedom, environmental protection, and human dignity, we should be able to surface, breathe, and rescue ourselves from the current precarious, drowning situation we are now in. At least, that's what I hope and believe.
Is is supposed to happen on Sunday. CNMI Hafa Dolla Day!
It goes up on the 25th, Memorial Day. It certainly will be a memorable day for employers!
We still will have many more years to go before we reach a minimum wage rate comparable to the U.S.
And we have a long way to go to build our economy so that employers stop complaining about these negliglbe increases that are more of a nod toward fair wages than an actualization.
From my point of view, though, there is hope.
Nobody is talking about it because they're trying to figure out how NOT to pay the wages. I no first hand companies who have employees working six days a week full-time, and their employees are being paid as part-time employees working only four days a week. Measures to counter the last increase in wages and employees are too afraid to complain.
Ah yes. The Saipan Tribune has now printed a front-page article on the subject.
interesting.