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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.
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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
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
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)