Under the federalization law, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services will establish a transitional program for CNMI guest workers.
But Hirshbein said this program will not affect CNMI Labor’s operation.
“I am not aware of any changes that will happen to Labor. We will still have enforcement authority, administration hearings, and wage and hour authority as long as people are renewing permits or remaining under our CNMI permits,” he said.
He added that all the rules of the local labor law, or P.L. 15-108, will remain in force for those with CNMI permits.
“When you sign a contract you make a personal obligation to comply with it. But if your current employer wants to convert you to a CW-1 visa nothing prevents them from doing that even if you have a CNMI permit,” he said.
In the processing of the CW-1 visa, he added, the federal government may need information from employers that the commonwealth does not require.
