Guest worker leaders are asking Labor Deputy Secretary Cinta M. Kaipat to reconsider her position.
“Labor should look into the situation of these overstayers. They have children and some of them have pending administrative cases for unpaid wages,” said Rabby Syed, United Workers Movement president.
He said they were “shocked” by Kaipat’s pronouncement which indicated once again that CNMI government agencies are not coordinating with each other.
Kaipat said Labor has no intention to make the umbrella permit a general amnesty program for illegal aliens.
“We do not know what the attorney general plans to do, but Labor will not grant any permission to work to any person that Labor has not approved for an umbrella permit,” she said.
Ronnie Doca, United Workers Movement and Pilipino Contract Workers Association chairman, said they have been receiving calls from overstayers who are supposed to appear at the AG’s office.
“We asked the overstayers to calm down because we are finding ways to look for relief,” Doca said.
Attorney General Edward T. Buckingham issued a notice regarding the granting of conditional umbrella permits to 628 overstayers.
At Labor, a notice has been posted stating that the department will revoke any permit granted to anyone on the AGO’s list.
“If you are on the attorney general’s list, the Department of Labor will not grant you an umbrella permit and will not allow you to register to transfer or to be employed. If you applied to Labor and you are on a Labor list, you should remove your name from the attorney general’s list. If your name remains on the attorney general’s list, your permit from Labor will be revoked,” the notice said.
Syed said, instead of contradicting each other, Labor and the AGO should come up with a joint statement regarding the overstayers.
Kaipat was attending a meeting on Capital Hill when Variety tried to get her comment yesterday.
