Labor Deputy Secretary Cinta Kaipat told Federal Ombudsman Jim Benedetto that they will not deal with Rowena C. Briones’ case because they do not have any jurisdiction over persons who enter the commonwealth as tourists.
According to Benedetto, Bienvenida Camacho has ”induced” and “sponsored” at least four foreign guest workers, including Briones, to come to the CNMI as “tourists” but were later employed by Camacho’s businesses.
Benedetto noted that Camacho has numerous violations, including failure to pay wages, and failure to pay the applicable minimum wage to Briones.
But Kaipat, in her letter to the federal ombudsman, said that when Benedetto prevented Labor from having access to federal funds, “you cut off any funding that might have been available for investigation such as this.”
She added, “I think it would have been better if you came to talk to me about this rather than writing a formal letter.”
According to Benedetto, Camacho utilized foreign workers even though she has been permanently barred from doing so.
“In addition, she may be involved in illegally recruiting foreign national workers in violation of both the Philippine Overseas Employment Act and the laws of the CNMI, by ‘sponsoring’ persons as tourists, then allegedly counseling and assisting them in obtaining missionary permits,” Benedetto said.
On March 28, 2007, then-administrative hearing officer Barry Hirshbein issued an administrative order permanently barring Camacho from employing or utilizing nonresidents working in the CNMI.
Briones arrived here on March 10, 2007 upon the sponsorship of Camacho.
Camacho assisted Briones to apply for a missionary permit under section 706M of the CNMI Immigration regulations.
Briones was purportedly sponsored by the Philippine Benevolent Missionaries Association Inc.
In her complaint filed with Labor, Briones said she worked as caretaker of the PBMA meeting hall but Camacho did not pay her the $300 month salary as promised.
The PBMA’s meeting hall was then located at Camacho’s residence.
“The Philippine Benevolent Missionaries Association Inc. in Saipan had sponsored several individuals (who were former nonresident workers, 706K permit) made them 706M missionary permit, but let them work on other businesses,” Briones said.
