Manglona, who testified during Tuesday’s oversight hearing on the implementation of the federalization law in the CNMI, said U.S. Public Law 110-229, or the federalization law, was silent about the prevailing wage rate issue.
A minimum wage earner in the CNMI is currently paid $4.55 per hour.
A federal law enacted in 2007 mandates the wage rate to be increased every year at increments of 50 cents through 2015 until it reaches the current federal hourly wage rate of $7.25.
The next 50-cent wage rate hike this year in the CNMI will take effect on Sept. 30, 2010.
The prevailing wage rates are different from the hourly minimum wage rate and are based on industry standard calculations.
Manglona, Ind.-Rota, said Congress should allow Gov. Benigno R. Fitial to have certifying wage authority.
“The Guam Department of Labor is authorized to conduct wage surveys for H2B workers, which must be approved by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. I recommend that the U.S. Department of Labor grant the governor of the CNMI the same certifying authority and apply CNMI prevailing wages for its alien workers under any visa classification.”
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