Current law imposes restrictions on the CNMI government’s ability to hire foreigners, but Public Health has told lawmakers it may soon run out of emergency room doctors while PSS says its special education program has the “most hard-to-fill” positions.
Special education professionals, pre-primary education and foreign language instructors who are foreign national workers serve critical and essential functions for PSS, the bill stated.
The draft bill will allow the hiring of physicians and dentists licensed to practice in the CNMI who have attained at least U.S. or Canadian board eligible-status.
It also proposes that “any physician or dentist not a citizen or permanent resident who was first licensed to practice in the commonwealth prior to Jan. 1, 2008 may be employed” by the CNMI government.
Current law only allows Public Health to hire U.S. or Canadian board certified physicians and dentists.
The draft bill will allow PSS to hire, until Sept. 30, 2010, foreign speech pathologists, occupational therapist, physical therapists, audiologists as well as special education and pre-primary education teachers, but not to exceed a total of 10 positions.
PSS, however, will be required to first recruit for such positions in Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand.
Moreover, these personnel must have a U.S. license, U.S. registration or U.S. certification. They must have a bachelor’s or master’s degree in special education prior to being issued an entry permit, and they must pass the Board of Education’s teacher certification tests.
According to the draft bill, foreign language instructors may be exempted if they are graduates of a college or university approved or accredited in accordance with PSS regulations.
The draft bill will likewise allow the CNMI government to continue hiring foreign nurses, engineering technicians and other healthcare personnel until Sept. 30, 2017.
Less than half of the CNMI’s estimated population of 80,000 are locals and the commonwealth, particularly its private sector, remains dependent on nonresident workforce.
