THERE will be a public forum on immigration and labor on Thursday, March 29, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. in Room D-1 at Northern Marianas College.
Possible subtopics for discussion include the proposed extension of federal immigration and minimum wage laws to the CNMI, the Nonresident Workers Act and proposed amendments, enfranchisement of nonresidents, and the changing demographics in the CNMI.
Those who want to participate are requested to come prepared with information and ideas to share; questions to ask of each other; and concrete, tangible solutions to propose for any problems that are identified.
The forum will begin with a brief historical overview of the issue presented by Sam McPhetres.
Patricia Coleman and Brooke Nevitt will be the facilitators for the evening.
Suggested readings are available online at www.thecnmi.com — click on the “Downloads” bar on the left side of the page, and then click on the “CNMI Government Files” link.
Testimonies from the U.S. Senate hearing, the Nonresident Workers Act, or P.L. 3-66, and other documents related to immigration and labor issues in the CNMI can be found at this site.
Also online:
The Covenant at: http://www.cnmilaw.org/covenant.htm .
The Fair Minimum Wage Act of 2007, or H.R. 2, at: http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d110:h.r.00002:
The Covenant Implementation Act, S. 507, http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/cpquery/T?&report=sr028&dbname=107 &
Anyone needing further information may contact Tina Sablan by e-mail at tinasablan@gmail.com, or at home, 233-0770.