“The new guest worker program must reflect democratic and constitutional principles,” the former Rota teacher said during a welcome party held for her on Saturday at the Garapan Central Park by guest worker organizations.
She said a just guest worker program requires continuing oversight, adequately trained and staffed offices, and strict enforcement of all labor and immigration laws.
These elements, she added, must be in place “if federalization is going to benefit everyone who calls the CNMI home.”
“It is morally wrong to look at guest workers as disposable commodities rather than as future citizens,” she added.
Jerry Custodio, Human Dignity Movement president, said guest workers are in a “critical stage” now because the contracts of some of them have not been renewed or their applications are not prioritized even if they are qualified.
”We are appealing to the federal government to protect the guest workers especially the long-term workers,” Custodio said.
Rep. Tina Sablan, Ind.-Saipan, and teacher Ron Hodges were among those participated in the gathering of Filipino, Chinese, Bangladeshi, Sri Lankan, Indian, Nepali, Thai and Korean guest workers.
Doromal, who now resides in Florida, said labor and immigration laws that “promote indentured servitude and regard guest workers replaceable commodities” should be replaced with those that respect the rights of all the people in the CNMI.
According to Doromal, an “exclusive society that disenfranchises a major portion of the population from political and social rights will not prosper politically, socially, morally, or economically.”
She added, “An economy built on the backs of indentured servants will not grow.”
As long as guest workers remain disenfranchise, she said, the CNMI will not have a free labor market to grow the economy.
Doromal said “oppressive” laws prevent guest workers from working for more than one employer, working for as many hours as they are needed, and sharing their skills with multiple employers.
Guest workers should be afforded social and political rights and a pathway to citizenship, she said. “Every long-term guest worker should be given a green card.”
