We should, thus, all thank Deputy Labor Secretary Cinta Kaipat for the big boost to our health provided by her comments as reported in last Friday’s issue of the Variety: “Over 6,500 private sector jobs will be vacated by nonresidents next year and should be available to locals.” What a laugh!
She does infuse some reality by noting that maybe as many as 20 percent will disappear — by businesses closing down, by attrition, by other means legal or illegal — so that the actual figure could be a mere 5,212 jobs.
But with over 1,000 being menial labor like housemaids, janitors, and farmers at one end of the scale, and more than 1,000 requiring a four-year bachelor’s degree “and several years’ experience” on the other end, it is, to put it mildly, highly unlikely that there are enough local residents willing to take on all those menial jobs, or qualified enough to take on all those that require the four years of college and experience.
That’s assuming, of course, that 6,500 foreign workers will indeed leave island over the next year — which is not yet certain.
In other words, even if it were true that 6,500 jobs would be vacated, and even if it were true that 6,500 locals were looking for jobs, it does not necessarily follow that there would be 6,500 matches between job and applicant.
There’s a lot of education, training, and change of mindset/attitude that would have to take place first — and that’s hardly likely to occur within the next 12 months.
The wish is worthy — but far from realistic. That is, of course, sad. But I also found the incongruity funny. So, with all due respect, thanks for the laugh, Cinta!
RUTH TIGHE
Tanapag, Saipan
