July 18, 2009
A few days ago I wrote a post that touched on some concerns with the $50 extension fee. I put out the question, "How much money has been collected since May 2009?"
A guest worker responded through an email giving some insight on the amount of money from renewal fees that was made in just one day from unemployed guest workers :
Dear Ms. Doromal:I am not publishing the name of the person who sent this email, in case he does not want to be identified.
I was there at the Labor's Hearing Office to submit my request for extension on July 15, 2009. I came in at 2:30 pm to avoid the crowd. To my dismay there were a lot of people like me submitting the request. I got a number (#57) only to find out that the office were able to process only up to no. 45 people in that afternoon (from 1:00 to 4:21pm). The office closed their door at 4:21pm and this was announced by a local lady explaining that much as they would want to accommodate us all they could not do so because the Treasury Office (accepting the $50 payment) is already closing.
I did go back the following day as instructed by the receptionist.
A friend told me that in the morning (from 8: to 12:00) about 100 people were on the line for processing of the extension.
As an accountant, I estimated that about a hundred twenty contract workers paid $50 on July 15, 2009 alone. Or the office collected a total of $6,000 that day from people who have no work at all.
From a person who was actually there requesting an extension
(Name of person)
The issue of the $50 fee and renewals raises many questions. Why are workers continually renewed if there are no available jobs? How much money does it cost to process paperwork? (Certainly not $6,000 a day.) Since there are no social programs or government assistance programs for unemployed foreign contract workers, is it even humane to charge a fee for constantly renewing people who have no employment and no chance to find an employer? Is the fee strictly for purposes of making dollars for the CNMI government?
35 comments:
Wendy,
Anytime a Filipina/Filipino Contract worker farts, it is big news to your blog!
Can you at least admit that many of your filipinos in the CNMI are committing fraud by lying on their labor application? Please also admit that Filipino normally do not want to go back to the Philippines once they set foot on the CNMI.
This blog is totally one sided! You are always blaming Cinta Kaipat for all the problems. Your problem is that you really do not know how much the labor department has improved under Cinta Kaipat's leadership! Give credit where credit is due!
Wendy,
Anytime a Filipina/Filipino Contract worker farts, it is big news to your blog!
Can you at least admit that many of your filipinos in the CNMI are committing fraud by lying on their labor application? Please also admit that Filipino normally do not want to go back to the Philippines once they set foot on the CNMI.
This blog is totally one sided! You are always blaming Cinta Kaipat for all the problems. Your problem is that you really do not know how much the labor department has improved under Cinta Kaipat's leadership! Give credit where credit is due!
U don't even have the balls to identify who u are.
Is someone making u read this? Did u read what this blog is about? The lines below the title.
Wendy gives credit where it is deserved. Who r u to tell her she needs to praise Cinta? Get real!
I know 10:23 you are Cinta's campaign manager! Who else would write this? "Every time a Filipino farts" ...you are a jerk.
Cinta is a bully. The Department has never had such low morale as it does now.
When I lived in the PI, I had to put up with problems such as the contract workers on Saipan...only 3 times more intense. I finally left with a greatly diminished bank account. No, a local family didn't milk me.. it was a totally corrupt Immigration Department. They made up the rules/fees as they went. When you feel you are not welcome and get the "Goodbye Look"..just packup and move on. Or in my case I returned home. No money to go home? Surrender your passport to the PI Consul on Saipan for a ticket home with conditions to pay back in the future. We always have a choice.
Wait a minute! I am a contract worker and I know that the Labor Department has improved its services to everyone! I am not sure who is responsible for the great improvements, but I am very thankful for it.
Thank you Wendy Doromal for forcing the improvements! You are a real hero to the contract workers!
I would throw CNMI labor notices into the trash.
They organization is a lame duck.
TPED: Saturday, 28 November 2009
To anonymous 8:01
SURE you're a contract worker. A $140,000 per year volunteer contract worker. LOL!
What, you stereotypically don't believe a contract worker has the ability to make a comment like that?
The highest level of volunteer out-of-pocket reimbusement, according to published contracts, was $48K annually.
So much for the credibility of your opinions!
Guest workers will be phased out of the CNMI. There are no promised Green Cards and nor should there be. As for the $50...if you cannot afford to pay a $50 fee then you are a contract worker on Federal food stamps, milking the US taxpayer and need to get a job.
Non US persons are not eligable for Food stamps,medicaid or anything else that is US Gov. funded.(or CNMI)
No hospital costs for a pregnancy, nothing,only the child is eligible AFTER it is born.
Food stamps are only calculated for the US child born in the NMI.
And yes the DOL is a pile of XXXXX.
Kaipat is not capable of anything but to further screw up the system.
Some people depend on their kids' NAP to survive, citizen and foreign national alike.
That's the number one reason why guest workers and illegals have babies in the CNMI. It should be in their contract that any children born will NOT be US citizens, then let's see how many babies they have!
That would require amending or reinterpreting the Fourteenth Amendment.
the US law is higher than CNMI law...i am not a lawyer, but i do not think it is possible to put into guest workers' contract that "any children born will NOT be US citizen"...since this is a trust territory...sorry ANON "july 20, 2009 7:17AM"...
to ANON "July 18, 2009 10:23PM. i would admit that there are SOME filipinos committing fraud (and not only filipinos ha?) to be able to stay in cnmi. i know that for a fact and you know that for a fact...and what is cnmi gov't trying to do? ...it is an a human instinct to find ways to survive...
"ang filipino, kung makakalusot, lulusot..."
malou berueo
I have been away from my computer since I posted this. There are some truly obnoxious and racist comments here.
I'll address one of the most obnoxious - anonymous 7:17am who said, "That's the number one reason why guest workers and illegals have babies in the CNMI.
I challenge you to prove that statement. It is ridiculous.
It should be in their contract that any children born will NOT be US citizens, then let's see how many babies they have!" That would be unconstitutional. And your comment is racist.
I believe that the Labor system which allows extension for guest workers for a 50 dollars fee should be scrutinized properly. There are two sides that i may think being taken advantage of by two parties. The guestworkers, who are seeking to extend their stay in the CNMI are taking advantage of this system eventhough they know the scarcity of available employment. On the otherhand, the Labor system may also be taking advantage of the fees being collected from guestworkers...
Obviously, the loophole in these specific Labor system is a target for abuse....
At least the money is going to the Government and not employees at Labor.
Agreed, the wise thing to do would be to save one's money and return home. However, who are we to judge the motivations of others?
If Foreign National Workers have several U.S.-citizen children, the latter would not be covered by the employer's repatriation ticket. So things are not quite so simple as they appear.
Many want to go home, but can't afford it. So can you blame them for spending $50 in hope of finding a job, any job? Wouldn't you?
Lost and lucky and anonymous 2:37 make excellent points.
The CNMI system has been broken for a very long time. The missing and essential part that is lacking is a provision for permanent status.
Any guest worker program that does not provide a pathway to citizenship is one step above slavery. Any system that allows workers to be continually renewed is approving that they become rooted in the community. We know that many guest workers have been in the CNMI longer than they have lived in their homelands. Many have US Citizen children and are considering their future. Of course most want to renew.
You are right in saying that many families with children absolutely cannot even afford the airfare for their children to return to their homelands where they have no job prospects. The government has taken advantage of this with the fee.
What will happen when the federal guest worker program is established if they do not grant long-term guest workers green cards? Will the federal government be paying to repatriate entire families? There is no way with this Congress and President that thousands families will be divided. There is no way that thousands of minor children will be left in the CNMI to fend for themselves while foreign parent are sent home. There is also no way that under a U.S. program, guest workers with no prospects for jobs will be continually renewed..
"You are right in saying that many families with children absolutely cannot even afford the airfare for their children to return to their homelands where they have no job prospects."
This is not a US Taxpayer problem. They are adults and should be making adult decisions. There are millions of unemployed Americans who cannot afford plane tickets anywhere as well. There are millions of American children in America who American parents cannot afford to pay their mortgage. The Filipino contract workers who had babies need to start being adults. If they can afford cell phones and cars they can afford to take their kids with them back to the PI and look for work. No work you say? The US unemployment has reached ten percent. There are no jobs waiting for them in the US and it is NOT our obligation to give them green cards. Repatriation does not mean the US taxpayer must set them up in an apartment in Manila it means that a plane ticket is far cheaper than decades of welfare which we cannot afford anymore.
It is the NMI that need the workers otherwise why would the Department of Labor continue to issue work permits?
THE CNMI GOVERNMENT CONTINUES TO ISSUE PERMITS SO THE WORKERS REMAIN. UNTIL THE CNMI NO LONGER ISSUE WORK PERMITS, THE WORKERS WILL BE HERE.
DOL is bringing in NEW foreign contract workers continually while at the same time there are hundreds of workers ON ISLAND that they are taking money from with renewals. DOL has become the CNMI's money factory. BRING ON FEDERALIZATION!
9:42
Yes, it is a U.S. taxpayer problem. If the U.S. Congress and DOJ had done their jobs 20 years ago the CNMI would not be in the mess that it is. Yes, the taxpayers will pay.
Are you a racist? Are we talking about Filipinos or contract workers who are made up of multiple nationalities.
It is not your obligation or the taxpayers obligation to give green cards. It is the U.S.'s MORAL obligation and not your decision. It will be the decision of the U.S. CONGRESS.
Furthermore I doubt that once FREED the foreign workers would be on welfare. They are some of the most industrious people in the world. They will open businesses and hey, maybe they will even offer you a job.
All Ethnic parents with US citizen children are welcomed to join the assembly headed by CREAM on August 9, 2009 to meet with the US Congressional Delegation. US children with special needs are most welcomed to be present so they will be seen and touched by the US Congressmen. The venue will be announced later since CREAM still working on it.
Long time guest workers, CNMI issued resident card holders, children born from 1974 to 1977? who are still stateless, and the like are encouraged to come and join. A prepared written statement will be read to the delegation regarding the plight of the concerned individuals.
Wendy thank you very much for your assistance and care to the plight of these poor people and children.
7:18am
It is NOT our obligation to shelter and take care of Filipinos, Chinese, etc. What is wrong with them returning to their home country? Before ONE SINGLE dime of US Taxpayer money goes into sheltering and feeding them there should certainly be a hearing and a vote by AMERICANS. GOBAMA!
It would seem that for many guest workers, a path out of this delema, especially those with US children that cannot afford to go home etc. would be to take advantage of the Guam US military buildup.(many are already awaiting processing)This should be for about 5 years.(H visa I believe is only good for a total of three years)The wage will allow for a "nest egg" along with many of the children to become of age and petition their parents.
They will be paid the prevailing Guam wages, also the US children to accompany them to Guam.
Under another visa (I think it is "K") will also allow their spouse (if legally married) to join them.
Chinese workers are "banned" from the "H" visa this year.
Today's Marianas Variety reports a planned meeting at 6:00 p.m. Saturday in the Kilili Beach Pavillion to help guest workers with unpaid claims.
http://www.mvarietynews.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=18595:workers-group-to-continue-fight-on-unpaid-wages&catid=1:local-news&Itemid=2
There is also a meeting of cock fighters scheduled for the same time and place.
http://www.mvarietynews.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=18585:cockfighting-aficionados-in-saipan-plan-to-organize-for-common-goal&catid=1:local-news&Itemid=2
"Fr. Noli is encouraging all Catholics to be present in this exclusive mass for Filipinos."
What a bunch of religious wackos.
Anon July 20, 2009 2:37 PM, you are absolutely correct when you said that we cannot blame GW taking the risk to pay $50 just for an extension, especially those who have their families here. And as long as there's a loophole on the DOL system, then it will be utilized to anyone's advantage.
My question however is that, Where is the $50 going? Is it being utilized properly? Is it being utilized to help jobseekers? Is it being utilized to support programs that will, in any way, help these jobseekers?
...JUST A THOUGHT....
Anon July 20, 2009 2:37 PM, you are absolutely correct when you said that we cannot blame GW taking the risk to pay $50 just for an extension, especially those who have their families here. And as long as there's a loophole on the DOL system, then it will be utilized to anyone's advantage.
My question however is that, Where is the $50 going? Is it being utilized properly? Is it being utilized to help jobseekers? Is it being utilized to support programs that will, in any way, help these jobseekers?
...JUST A THOUGHT....
Another thing, for some Anons, the topic in these thread is about the $50 fee for extension that is in the DOL system at present.
Do you realize what you are saying? Maybe, you are reading a different issue. Are you lost? lol!
January 1, 1974 to January 9, 1978.
My neighbor bets minimum $50 bets on the local cock fights yet he can't pay the $50 fee for his contract extension.LOL
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