Introduced by Sen. Juan M. Ayuyu, Senate Bill 17-48 will allow CUC to fill technical and professional positions with nonresidents until 2011.
CUC, Ayuyu said, may contract manpower services or directly hire power plant mechanics and utility technicians.
But he also wants CUC to “exert diligent efforts in finding and training U.S. citizens or permanent residents to take those jobs.”
The Department of Labor, he added, “shall certify that CUC has done, in good faith, all efforts to train and hire U.S. citizens or permanent residents.”
Public Law 16-14 allowed CUC to hire foreign workers for technical and professional positions until September 2010 only.
CUC is unable to fill essential positions with U.S. citizens thus it is necessary to hire guest workers, Ayuyu said.
CUC hired locals but they did not last too long, he said.
Ayuyu, Ind.-Rota, hopes that before the one-year period ends, CUC will be able to work with Labor to find locals for these jobs.
Sen. Ralph DLG. Torres, R-Saipan, said CUC should hire students of the Northern Marianas Trades Institute.
CUC eventually must hire locals and other U.S. citizens for all positions, he added.
