the commonwealth of the northern mariana islands (cnmi) a period of transition
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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 CNRAConsolidated 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 CNMIA Gradual Reduction
FY 2011 FY 2012 FY 2013 FY 20140
5,000
10,000
15,000
20,000
25,000
22,417 22,416
15,00014,000
DHS CNMI Only Non-Immigrant CWs
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 14,199• Year 2011 17,073
• Year 2010 16,743• Year 2009 18,053
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)Working ; 48
Not Working ; 404
High School Graduate; 319
Non High School Graduate; 125
US Citizen; 338
Greencard; 9FAS Citizen; 14
Non US Citizen; 85Female; 267
Male; 18216-19 Yrs; 5020-24; 8825-29; 2430-34; 2435-39; 2040-44; 2445-49; 1750-54; 1055-59; 860-64; 3 65+; 3Blank Age; 182
Veteran; 17
Not A Veteran; 432
CNMI Scholarship Recipient; 31
SHEFA; 15
Both; 28
Blank; 383
NAP Recipient; 178
No NAP; 249
Blank; 30
Registered with DOL; 175
Not Registered with DOL; 105Blank ; 177
Rota and Tinian Job Fair (Jan. 2014)
Thank You