“The transition workers program, which we are hoping will looks something like what we already have, is supposed to pick up those people in the workforce now who can’t qualify for U.S. visas,” he said.
According to Mailman, workforce preservation will be the basic problem during the implementation of the federalization law, or U.S. P.L. 110-229.
“We really can’t afford to lose anybody at this point,” he said.
He told Rotarians during their meeting yesterday that the CNMI still needs thousands of workers to run its economy.
He said under federalization, the current guest workforce will be considered temporary only.
Domestic helpers, farmers, the housekeeping staff of hotels and taxi drivers will not be given U.S. visas based on their occupations, Mailman said.
Then-Federal Labor Ombudsman Jim Benedetto earlier said that the majority of guest workers in the CNMI might get H2-B visas, but these, he added, are for temporary occupations.
H2-B visas are for unskilled workers like cooks, waiters, landscapers or those who work for hotels, the tourism industry or customer service.
Mailman said CNMI employers should consider two-year entry permits for their guest workers.
The scenario under federalization is still vague, he added, but he expects “chaos” months before and after June 1, 2009, when U.S. P.L. 110-29 is implemented.
He also noted that there are a surprising number of immediate relative of U.S. citizen in the CNMI who do not have green cards.
These individual’s immediate relative status will be honored until it expires on June 1, 2009 or two years from that date.
Once their IR status expires, these individuals have to qualify under the CNMI-only guest workers program to be able to stay on island.
Mailman said these IRs should apply for green cards now.
