Executives and representatives of companies gave out as many application forms as they could to interested residents.
CNMI-issued umbrella permits expire on Nov. 27 and nonresidents who are jobless or whose employers have not applied for CW visas will have to depart the islands.
Over 800 U.S. citizen job seekers, mostly high school graduates gathered at the multi-purpose center in Susupe to participate in the CNMI U.S. Eligible Workers Job Expo that started at 8 a.m.
On the same day, the U.S. Department of the Interior, through its Assistant Secretary Tony Babauta and Office of Insular Affairs Director Nikolao Pula, announced a $1 million grant for CNMI job creation programs.
Acting Gov. Eloy S. Inos said the administration was happy and grateful for the federal grant.
“I think it is a start and it’s heading to the right direction. It will allow private employers to be able to hire U.S. workers, especially those who are not employed or are underemployed,” he added.
The grant, he said, is timely and significant “because we will be losing a lot of guest workers by Nov. 27.”
The CNMI, he added, will also lose investments if a company cannot hire new workers.
Abe Sacramento, supervisor of Star Water, said they expect to have 25 vacancies after Nov. 27. These include the positions of four cashiers, 10 deliverypersons, two drivers, eight production crewmembers and one repair and maintenance man. Guest workers currently hold these positions, but after Nov. 27, they may not be able to keep them.
Tan Holdings’ Saipan Grand Hotel and Fiesta Resort & Spa plan to seek CW visas for their nonresident workers, but they participate in the job fair in anticipation of possible disapprovals of CW applications.
GPPC Inc., a construction company, will need 20 U.S. citizen applicants because it will not petition for CW visa its current guest workers.
Dee Parker, a graduate of Marianas High School, sought a job at Herman’s Bakery because she wants to be a baker. She said she does not have a work experience yet but appreciates the opportunity to land a job.
Parker said she took cooking and baking lessons in school.
She also applied at Docomo Pacific for the position of sales clerk. She believes she qualifies because, she said, she is very friendly.
Her friend, Kory Yamada, also applied at Herman’s Bakery and took application forms from other companies. Like Parker, she said she will accept the first job offer she gets.
