Frank D. Cabrera, WCC director, told members of the Society of Human Resource Management at the Pacific Islands Club on Thursday that in 2009, a total of 84 claims were filed from the hotel/resort industry — 23 injuries involving permanent resident workers and 61 incidents filed by guest workers.
Last year, the commission received 102 claims from the same industry — 36 from permanent residents and 66 from guest workers.
From January to March this year, Cabrera said 15 claims for injuries and illnesses had been filed by permanent residents and 38 by guest workers, for a total of 239 claims.
In 2009, Cabrera reported a total of 317 claims received by their office, including one fatality from the construction industry and four claims from the same industry from guest workers, one claim from the security services, seven from the defunct garment industry, and 44 claims from government workers.
Under the “All Others” category, 73 injuries and illnesses were filed by permanent resident workers including one fatality claim while 102 claims were filed by guest workers.
The “All Others” category included assorted job classifications such as fishermen, vendors and those individuals working for mom and pop stores.
The figure went down from 317 in 2009 to 313 last year, with 52 claims for injuries/illnesses coming from the construction industry filed by guest workers, three claims from the marine activities sector, two from the security services, and 130 claims under the “All Others” category — 52 claims filed by resident workers and 78 filed by guest workers, including one fatality claim.
The first quarter of 2011 reported a total of 171 claims, 14 of which were filed by guest workers under the construction industry, one from the security services, 14 from the government, and 85 filed under “All Others” — 29 claims from resident workers and 56 from guest workers.
Cabrera said he is optimistic the number of claims will go down this year. The data he presented included claims from Saipan, Tinian, and Rota.
The CNMI Workers Compensation Program was established in 1989 to provide various benefits to employees who suffer work-related injuries, illnesses and death.
