The U.S Congress created the federal ombudsman’s office in 1998 amid reports of labor and human rights abuses involving foreign workers at the time.
Asked if Pamela Brown, the Babauta administration’s attorney general and the first federal labor ombudsman, will replace him, Benedetto said, “That’s highly unlikely.”
But he added that he doesn’t know who is going to be his successor or when his last day in office is.
“My boss assured me that I will be replaced,” he said.
Brown could not be immediately reached for comment.
Benedetto’s soon to be vacated position must first be advertised. Applicants will be screened before the final selection is made.
He said the implementation of the federalization law next year will be an “exciting time” for his replacement.
“In some sense, the job is a moving target…. The passage of the new law changes some things. June 1, 2009 (the start of the federalization law’s implementation) will alter the playing field,” he said.
The federal ombudsman’s office helps foreign workers who have complaints regarding labor, civil and human rights abuses.
Benedetto said whoever will replace him must have “lots of creativity.”
The CNMI currently hosts more than 18,000 foreign workers.
All of them will be treated as transitional workers under the yet to be introduced federal guest worker program.
“This may be an opportunity for [the CNMI’s federal guest worker program] to be a model for all guest worker programs in the nation…. They may look to us,” said Benedetto.
