Fitial said his directive “shall not apply” to critical service personnel such as police officers, firefighters, corrections officers, juvenile detention unit officers, physicians and nurses.
These personnel, he said, “shall continue to report for duty pursuant to their respective approved work schedules.”
Fitial, in an interview yesterday, said it is up to the Public School System to decide on the working hours of its teachers and principals.
Whatever they think is best for their critical personnel, his administration will agree to it, he said, referring to the autonomous school system.
Fitial said he respects PSS.
In the first week of this pay period, government employees affected by the 16-hour cut will work from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday to Thursday, and 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Friday.
In the second week, they will work from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday to Thursday. Except for the critical services, the other executive branch departments will be closed on Friday.
Office of Management and Budget Director Vicky Villagomez said there will be one working Friday in each pay period.
Press Secretary Angel A. Demapan, in a separate interview, said the governor’s budget team, of which Villagomez is a member, came up with the recommendation to exempt the critical services from the 16-hour cut.
The budget team is composed of key staff from OMB, the Department of Finance and the Office of Personnel Management
Demapan said the Fitial administration will not jeopardize the safety, health and welfare of the CNMI people despite the necessity for austerity measures.
This is why the governor created the budget team, Demapan added.
Fitial said his directive will be observed by all locally and federally funded employees of the executive branch.
“While I recognize that certain offices and functions may be required to adopt a modified 64-hour work schedule to meet certain needs and requirements, written requests must be submitted to my office and must be approved before any modified 64-hour work schedule may be implemented,” Fitial said.
He said affected departments should take necessary actions to ensure that their staff report for duty in accordance with his directive, which will remain in effect “until such time that it is rescinded or superseded by a subsequent directive to address certain needs as they arise.”
