United Workers Movement, NMI president Rabby Syed and Coalition of United Workers, NMI president Rene Reyes are hoping the U.S. government will also consider the status of guest workers.
“This will give us enough time to talk and negotiate with the federal officials regarding some of our concerns,” Reyes said.
Syed, for his part, said they will continue to seek the guidance and assistance of Congressman GregorioC. Sablan regarding issues affecting the status of guest workers.
In a statement, DHS Secretary Janet Napolitano said the delayed transition to the full application of U.S. immigration provisions until Nov. 28, 2009 was decided after consultation with the U.S. secretaries of Labor, the Interior and State, the U.S. attorney general, and the governor of the CNMI.
Under the Consolidated Natural Resources Act of 2008, the DHS secretary has the sole authority to delay the June 1, 2009 transition date by up to 180 days.
Syed and Reyes said the issues of guest workers might not be addressed within the extension period.
These issues include the plight of guest workers who have U.S. citizen children serving in the military; those who have U.S. citizen children with disabilities; and those who are immediate relatives of U.S. citizens.
Under the federalization law, the IR status will no longer be valid.
Syed said they will also continue to ask for an improved status of long-term guest workers in the CNMI.
He said they will likewise ask the federal government to provide assistance to displaced guest workers who have pending labor cases.
“We want them to have a new immigration status and be given a privilege to stay while their cases have yet to be resolved,” he said, adding that it is an injustice if the CNMI government deport them without getting their unpaid wages.
Syed said they will ask DHS to also consider the plight of overstaying guest workers, especially those with pending administrative labor cases.
Syed and Reyes said guest workers should work fast to get their concerns resolved.
“We encourage each guest worker to also work on their own, not necessarily depending only on their leaders,” Syed said.
Reyes reminded guest workers whose contracts were terminated or not renewed that they can avail of the 30-day transfer relief from the CNMI Department of Labor.
Syed and Reyes said the 180-day extension will have a positive impact on the guest workers if all their concerns will be taken into consideration by the U.S. government.
