After the department announced its proposed changes to the labor law on May 18, Doromal said she received e-mails and calls from the CNMI about the proposed fee increases.
“The guest workers just could not afford them,” she said.
Labor will increase the renewal of temporary work authorization fee from $25 per month to $50 but decrease the contract extension fee from $35 per month to $25.
The 60-day limit for renewal was reduced 15 days and the penalty remains $5 per day.
The fee for the processing of temporary work authorization is $150 fee while filing an appeal with the labor secretary costs $40.
The fee for filing a labor complaint is $20 and filing an appeal with the hearing office costs $25.
Doromal said when one considers that the minimum wage is under $5 an hour, Labor’s fees are high.
She said the average guest worker would have to work more than 30 hours to be able to pay for the processing of a temporary work authorization, over four hours to file a labor complaint, and more than a day’s work, which is eight hours, to file an appeal.
Labor Deputy Secretary Cinta M. Kaipat said the proposed revisions aim to provide additional employment opportunities for U.S. citizens.
The proposed regulations are published in the Commonwealth Register and copies are posted at convenient places in government offices in each senatorial district.
Kaipat said comments can be mailed to Secretary of Labor Gil San Nicolas, c/o Eli Golub, labor counsel, P.O. Box 10007, Saipan, MP 96950.
They can also be faxed at 236-0991 or e-mailed to [email protected].
The comments are due within 30 days from May 18.
