Their responsibilities, she added, are “interrelated” to ensure continuous services.
“It’s unfair for most employees not to get their paycheck today while others can get theirs,” she added.
The government has announced that today will be another payless Friday for nonessential employees.
Like Rep. Joseph M. Palacios, Santos said the government should make partial payments to everyone instead of paying only some employees.
In case of a government shutdown, which will happen if there is no new budget law enacted before Oct. 1, where will the low-income people get their food stamps if the Department of Community and Cultural Affairs, which runs the Nutrition Assistance Program, is not considered essential? Santos asked.
Because the NAP offices will be closed, no food stamps will be issued to those who cannot even get help from relatives working for the government who will also not get paid, she said.
Palacios, in a letter, urged Gov. Benigno R. Fitial to give the employees of “nonessential” services at least some of their salary today.
Palacios, R-Saipan, said numerous employees and their families feet that all government employees should be treated equally.
“They, too, have families to feed, bills to pay and ailing family members to take care of,” he said.
