In an interview yesterday, Palacios, R-Saipan, said he also introduced a bill imposing a $100 booking fee on anyone arrested by the Department of Public Safety.
As for the foreign workers’ remittances, he said the commonwealth can either ask the Department of Homeland Security to make it easier for guest workers to bring their families here or the CNMI should impose a tax on remittances.
Palacios said he finds it “disturbing” to hear many nonresident workers claim that they have contributed a lot to the CNMI economy when it’s “not really true.”
CNMI Department of Commerce data showed that in 2010 alone, the total amount remitted by nonresident workers was more than $65 million. In 2009, the amount was $64.7 million; in 2008, it was $76.8 million; in 2007, $93.6 million; in 2006, $102 million; and in 2005, $112.6 million.
Of the 11 money transfer companies on the island, Western Union sends the largest amount followed by LBC Mabuhay Saipan, Rustan’s Foreign Exchange and Philippine National Bank Forex.
Nonresident workers from the Philippines send the largest amount of money. In 2009, they remitted $40.3 million followed by guest workers from China who sent home a total of $11.7 million.
Palacios said it really “perturbs” him to hear how some guest workers “insist” that they contribute to the local economy.
“How can this be if the majority of their salaries are being sent back home?” he asked.
He noted, however, that there are nonresidents who have families here and they spend most of their money in the CNMI.
“But there are many who are in the CNMI for the purpose of work only and the majority of their salaries are circulated outside the commonwealth,” he said.
Palacios said allowing the families of guest workers to come here may be a good idea but he does not think it will be possible because of strict federal immigration rules.
Palacios said he will instead look into the possibility of taxing nonresident workers for the amount they remit home.
Most guest workers in the CNMI perform labor-intensive work and are paid the minimum wage of $5.05 an hour.
Booking fee
Palacios said his House Bill 17-235, which is expected to be discussed this afternoon, will help DPS recoup the costs associated in booking persons being arrested.
According to his bill, “The booking fee will not be predicated on one’s guilt or innocence, therefore once a person is booked and processed, he or she will be charged of fee.”
In a separate interview, Speaker Eli D. Cabrera, R-Saipan, said the booking fee is for DPS’ administrative costs when arresting suspects.
In the states, he added, many big cities charge suspects with booking fees because the processing costs the police department a lot of money.
In Aurora, Illinois, for example, booking each suspect costs $66 but police collect a $50 fee.
Palacios said he will continue to work diligently in finding additional resources “during this bleak economy that we continue to struggle with.”
