I came to Saipan to work in the field of engineering since December 14, 1996 and up to the present. I am currently working in one of the power plant in the island.
I’ve accepted the job offered to me by my placement agency, left my former employer Eagle Electric of the Philippines for a greener pasture. As a young professional, I dreamed of having a happy life and the future of my family back home.
I’ve carefully reviewed the Employment Contract between myself and my employer from A to O issued by the Government of the Northern Mariana Islands, Office of Immigration. I’ve accepted the terms and conditions of the said contract (from A-O) and performed my duties and responsibilities in full without hesitations that keeps me going day by day up to the present.
My acceptance of these contract, and by leaving my family back home is supported by the Memorandum of Understanding between the Department of Labor and Employment of the Republic of the Philippines and The Department of Labor and Immigration of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands as amended in December 18, 2000 in Manila signed by Bienvenido E. Laguesma, Secretary, Department of Labor and Employment of the Republic of the Philippines and Mark D. Zachares, Secretary, Department of Labor and Immigration Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands particularly under Article 7-9 of the said MOU.
Since then, there are a lot of changes and amendments in the CNMI Laws and Regulations that we foreign workers can’t do nothing but to abide by the rules as mandated by the host government. But what about the MOU? Is there any changes too?
To be honest, I don’t have any problem with my employer. Our company is providing us free medical and insurance policy including processing of our employment contract. They even enrolled us in the 401K pension plan for our future retirement but what about those fellow foreign workers who are receiving less or receiving the minimum wage set-forth by the government, are they capable of paying (partial) their Medical and Insurance Policy? considering the high cost of living in the island.
As a concerned foreign worker and one of among the leaders of foreign workers, I’ve encountered a lot of problems from fellow foreign workers, from hospitalization, repatriation and food drive. I’ve exposed myself asking monetary assistance from my fellow foreign workers, assisting in sending sick/ill foreign workers back home penniless. What if poor foreign workers got sick or accident and brought to the hospital penniless, who is the responsible for his/her financial needs? Considering that he/she has no relatives in the island if without the benefit of full medical and insurance coverage by the employers. The end burden goes to the government and or CHC. I’ve noted in the past that there are sick and or dead foreign workers confined at CHC that can’t be release due to financial problem. “Overseas Workers Welfare Administration” is a life insurance thus it does not cover ill or sick Filipino workers.
I understand the current economic situation globally, the story of Mr. Jerry Crisostomo, but business is business. Its goal is to generate income and revenues but it should not also undermined the risk that foreign national had to faced. I would strongly recommend that all work related injuries should be hundred per cent covered by the employer medical/insurance policy. Foreign workers who got sick while performing his/her task must also be covered in full by the employer and or medical/insurance policy.
Thank you very much.
CARLITO J. MARQUEZ
Puerto Rico, Saipan
