November 2, 2009
"An error does not become truth by reason of multiplied propagation, nor does truth become error because nobody sees it." -Mohandas Gandhi
Can a person be more audacious? The same administration that worked to have the grandfathering provision removed from the federal law and that penned PL15-108 that proposed the guest workers must leave every two years now claims that the federal rule concerning maids is "not just against women but against foreign workers."
The Saipan Tribune reported CNMI DOL Deputy Secretary Kaipat as saying:
Firstly, there is not a "no-maids provision" in the rules. The rules states that a domestic workers can receive CW-1 transitional worker status under the federal guest worker program, but they must be sponsored by an eligible employer doing business in CNMI. “The no-maids provisions discriminate against women on several grounds. First, it has the effect of forcing our women to stay home and take care of the household instead of working.”
Since when are women forced to stay at home to take care of the household instead of working? I do not know one family in the mainland who has a live-in maid (or any kind of maid) even though both parents work outside of the home. They bring their young children to a day care, have a relative or trusted neighbor watch their children in their homes, enroll their children in before and after school programs, or make other arrangements. The allegation of discrimination is ridiculous!
I do agree with this statement she made:
"Women do not want to entrust their homes and their children to some employee of a company. They want the household help that they have had for years and the people that they trust."
This is not just the case for domestic helpers, but for every category of foreign worker. All employers would like to keep the "help that they have had for years and the people that they trust." If Governor Fitial, and the anti-federalization supporters including Cinta Kaipat had not worked to have the grandfathering provision removed from the federal legislation it would not be an issue today. That provision would have ensured that the employers could have had the same skilled, dedicated and hardworking employees that they renewed year after year after year.
The story continues:
Is she serious? Was there a list of authors of the rules? Were they actually all men? Is she really suggesting that the drafters of the rules are sexist? That they don't understand the importance of women in the work force in the CNMI? The women in the mainland don't have maids. Maybe we should march on Washington! This is absurd!"The drafters of this federal statute were all men, Kaipat said. They apparently did not care about the rights of women to be in the workplace, and they did not understand the important part that women play in the workforce here in the Commonwealth. "
Kaipat had the nerve to state:
Again, the "no-maids" policy does not exist, although the hiring procedures have changed. “The no-maids policy also discriminates against some of our longest-staying foreign workers. Women who have been on our islands taking care of our children and our elderly since the 1980s do not deserve this back-of-the-hand treatment. The foreign workers who help our children and elderly are valued employees. They have long-standing relationships with our families and with our Commonwealth. They have done nothing to deserve this harsh result.”
Any "back-of-the-hand treatment" was given by the Fitial Administration and backers who lobbied to get the grandfathering provision removed. It would have provided security for not just for the domestic helpers, but for all of the guest workers and their employers. It would have eliminated uncertainty and hardship for thousands. You just cannot make such a selfishly motivated move and then blame someone else for it. If Governor Fitial and Kaipat are truly concerned for the guest workers and their employers, they would recommend to the U.S. Congress that they immediately grant the foreign contract workers and nonresidents in the CNMI U.S. status.
UPDATE Read Jane's post, Bullshit Feminism on Kaipat's latest jive.
30 comments:
Anti-women...this is 2 funny.
These so called "pro-women" supporters want to continue paying impoverished women 300. per month, or ONE DOLLAR PER HOUR.
PASS THE WORD, SERVITUDE IS OVER IN MY CNMI.
Not to mention that domestic helpers are one of the most abused of all categories of workers.
you are absolutely right wendy. I think kaipat's statements were made because of politics... election time remember?
Anyway, I also believe that what she and others are worried about is that they can no longer have the advantage of having a house help with a very low pay even lower than the minimum rate. And now she's talking about discrimination against long term guest workers? Why is it that during the past, way back before PL15-108, we have not heard anything like what she is saying right now? Why is it that when we were expressing our concerns about guest workers' status on streets, on newspapers, etc... that she never even bothered to support? Why????
IF KAIPAT REALLY IS CONCERNED ABOUT GUEST WORKERS, THEN SHE SHOULD TELL HER BOSS TO RECOMMEND TO THE US CONGRESS A BETTER STATUS FOR GUESTWORKERS IN THE CNMI.
at least little by little now they are realizing the importance of guest workers especially those who stayed here and worked for long time and show dedications to their job...
it's about time FOR ALL THE EMPLOYERS (NOT JUST THOSE MEMBERS OF CHAMBER OF COMMERCE) to stand together and be heard, their need and importance of these long term guest workers who served/worked/helped them for sooooooooo many years!!!!
Let US hear the UNIFIED VOICE of the INVESTORS....!!!!
if the penniless workers can do it, why can't they????
Cinta Kaipat is a product of a system which has turned over most maternal functions to live in maids who work for slave wages and are often the object of sexual abuse by their employer and his male family members. There are many local families who do treat their domestic helpers well and who do make them part of the family structure. However, they are a minority of employers! Maids are probably the most abused members of the guest worker system because they are isolated and lack a support group. The local churches could have filled that role , but most of the church leaders chose not to! A real shame!
I hope dearly that a good majority of this community feels the same way you, Jane, the commenters on the Variety and I feel.
I have always had a problem with Cinta's mindset. I have ahd the chance to sit and tlak with her and work besides her for some time and I could never see things from her point of view. It is as if she has been put down so badly at an early stage in life that the chip on her shoulder is so massive that she just can't set it down.
She tries and has tried in the past to point in a better direction but in the end she succumbs to that chip on her shoulder.
She finds solace in tight nit groups that champion her as a leader and a champion of the people and that goes to her head in a flash and for that instant she is free in her mind of the chip.
These statements that she gave were said while she was adrift in that lala land of freedom she created for herself.
I am sure that Deanne and Fitial are very proud of her and her ability in this case to spin and distort things so badly in order to paint the federal government as nothing but evil.
In the end, I do hope our voters and all that live here see that it is her that is spewing evilness.
Ang ating kababayan na sip-sip kay gobernador Fitial ay kay kapal ng mukha pati ang kaniyang asawa ay nangangapanya para sa kanilang amo. Upang matulungan lang nila ang kanilang sariling kapakanan. I boboto ko na lang si Satanas kaysa kay Fitial! Di-ba leng pauuiniin na ang kanilang mga kababayan para sila ay may trabaho lamang. Sakim kayong mag-asawa katulad ng inyong among gobernador. Mga TRAIDOR!!!!!
Ito ang kanilang pina mga ngampaniya:
Mahal na Kabayan,
I respectfully request and appeal for your help, support and vote of confidence of re-electing Governor Ben R. Fitial and Lt. Governor Eloy S. Inos for 4 more years to continue their endevour of improving the economy and selflessly continue serving the people and the community to the utmost.
As you are aware, 4 years of careful and professional administration of the government are not enough to revive and improve the economy and uplift the well being of the people when they almost spent 30 months of fixing, working, correcting, accomplishing and putting the house in-order with the mess and excesses that they inherited from the past administrations. Sure they have shortcomings too, however, without help and support from the CNMI Legislatures, all will be in vain.
Although the Legislatures were/are not very cooperative and supportive of the Fitial administration, we still felt and saw improvements and accomplishments thru the Fitial-Inos' hardwork, proven leadership and proven experience -- then why look Somewhere Else. In essence, we do not have to start all over again to elect someone with only vision for change. Change what? Governor? Starting all over again will be a disaster as it has been seen and experienced by any new administration. What we need is called COOP, "Continuity Of Operation" by Proven Leadership and Proven Experience.
Let Fitial-Inos continue what they started such as the Umbrella Permit "aka" Payong ni Ben. The Umbrella/Payong ni Ben gave assurance, stability, sense of belonging, and peace of mind to Employers, Employees, Immediate Relatives, CNMI Permanent Residents, the remaining Stateless Children (born from 1974 to 1977) and FSM citizens while we still wait in limbo of what will come next after Nov. 27, 2009.
Remember the more than 300 former Stateless Children that Governor Fitial helped to obtain their local residency under PL 14-8 and eventually led to their US citizenship that they now truly enjoy. No one among his competitors supported the Stateless Children to be US citizens instead they were against and declared it unconstitutional. But they were proven wrong by Governor Fitial.
Therefore, let us join together to help, support and make their re-election a victory for all people of the CNMI. Let us talk to our friends, families, relatives and co-workers to vote Fitial-Inos on November 7, 2009. Four More Years of Responsible Leadership. Maraming Salamat Po.
Ang inyong Kabayan,
Dan S. Buniag
NO MORE YEARS!
It seems like every time, past and present, Kaipat opens her mouth she puts her foot in it.
I thought that this woman was an attorney, has she been able to pass the NMI bar exam?
It does not seem time and time again that she has any English comprehension abilities.
I can see her and others problem with this rule about hiring maids out of an agency.
She and others. presently, have to pay the house workers increased wages, then they deducted it, plus more, out of the monthly wages, like, food, lodging, power, water and anything else they could get away with, also no overtime.
This then left the worker with less than the original salary of $300 a month.
I have personally observed through the years the hours and duties plus the extra work put on many of these house workers by the employers' and extended family. Also in many instances the degrading attitude and treatment by many of the kids and and even the adults in the household.
If these workers come out of an agency then they will be paid by the agency, they will also be bonded against theft and other actions that will protect the employer.
BUT, if the employer does not pay the agency then they will lose their house worker. Simple.
No more "I am short this month, I will pay you next month" kind of deal that goes on for many months.
No more being woken up in the middle of the night to cook and take care of the returning family after a night out on the town.(or poker parlor)
No more having the relatives kids and laundry dropped off, "my maid will take care of it while we are at the beach" (or poker club)
Now it looks like those that want to play the "high roller" will have to have one of the spouse to work to pay the House worker's wages while living on the other wages. (if they still feel they need a house worker)
It is about time to teach the house hold to pick up after themselves and do some chores around the house.( A prelude to work ethics)
Maybe now many may have to only have a person to come in once or twice a week to do some cleaning and be paid an honest wage.
Many may even be surprised what their kids look like and start to keep track of them.
BUT like in many of the business here, an "Agency" can/will also be open for abuse as has been seen time and time again like with security agencies.
So there undoubtedly, as we sit here now, there is plans from some on how to open an agency to continue the "Status Quo" and skirt the law.
Maybe the new Gov. will try and get a status for all of the workers and illuminate much of the problems that now.
Noni 10:34
You must be out of your F.......mind.
Do you honestly believe the garbage that you are spouting. What have you been smoking.
I think the better question is where are you going to be working next year? Seems like you are scared for your job.
Better give your house worker notice and have your kids find a job.
I wonder how many votes Cinta lost with this garbage. She doesn't have a snowball's chance in hell of getting elected. Better fire her maid. When the new governor is in, she'll be out.
I wonder if Deanne wrote than nonsense and had Cinta sign it. That has been the modus operandi in the past and Cinta seems quite happy with that arrangement. The real wacko/crazy stuff will ramp up later this week when nobody has a chance to respond. Willens and his wife are probably going to get writers' cramp!
Dan S. Bunag, do you know what is Mahal na kababayan? Do you really mean it?? I don't think so. You just need to say it now. Tsk! tsk! tsk! kapal ng mukha mo!!
Isaksak mo sa baga mo ang "Payong ni Ben!
Dan Buniag and Jaun Dela Cruz,
Please ask the Governor to come out right now publicly and state for the record that he is in support of improved status for Guest Workers legally present in the CNMI. You are both saying that he is and that it was Guam that removed the "grandfathering" provision that would have allowed the long term guest workers a pathway to citizenship. If you are being honest than there should be no problem with the Governor stating this for the record. Please stop spreading these incorrect statements.
The governor had pushed hard against granting a pathway to citizenship for guest workers. He enlisted Guam's support in this push and they backed him up... in exchange of course for inclusion into the Federalization Law. They now will have the ability to have the Visa Waiver program we would have had to ourselves. He sold his soul and our competitive advantage in order to hurt the long term guest workers that call Saipan home.
CREAM endorsed Fitial for one reason. The members of CREAM are not guest workers. They are business people that have contracts with this administration. They rely on low cost guest workers and like the chamber profit takes precedent over humanitarian concerns. Danny works for this administration so we know why he along with all the other Government workers must put the bumper stickers on their cars and wave the green flag.
I beg of you all to vote wisely in the booth. It is a private decision and you can vote for what is right. Even if you were forced to write letters or wear the green logo.
DO NOT vote for FITIAL if you care for the CNMI.
I do hope that people who have publicly endorsed Cinta (ehem... Brad, Angelo, etc) please come forward to either rebut all the irate voters complaints or retract their endorsement. There is no excuse for us to look past this. It is not Cinta's first time making derogatory comments that are indicative of a southern plantation owner in the 1800s.
We can not and should not tolerate this. Why have we for so long?
She has been tied to her Uncle's belt since her initial run for office. No more.
We will stay in Saipan if are given the chance to. The "cliche" this is our second home is an understatement. I might not be there now, but soon I will be back - home - Saipan.
V.S.
ANON 12:24PM:
Jun dela Cruz was just stating what Danny Buniag said on his e-mail campaigning for Fitial.
You have to say SORRY to Jun dela Cruz.
"Payong ni Ben" saksak mu daw sa baga mu Danny Buniag! TSUK TSAK TSUK!
juan dela cruz, it is good to comment in one's native tongue to reach out to your kababayans, but make sure you have a translation in english for other readers, otherwise, you will be misunderstood.
mr. buniag, do you actually believe your statement? much as i would like to respect your opinion, i think that you should have just kept it to your self. it reeks of super kiss-ass. OMG!
correct me if i'm wrong, but didn't the poor kids had to go to a lawyer to fight for them?
the plight of the stateless was already used in the last governatorial bid to garner pinoys' votes and it proved to be just that - a campaign thingy. where is the "concern for pinoys" after the election?
please use another gimmick this time around. perhaps this one - request directly to the Secretary of Interior for an improved status for guest workers! problem solved, no need to wait for 2014 to reduce transitional guest worker to zero.
Barok,
Repeating a lie or something that is misleading is still wrong. If Jun wants an apology than he should ask Fitial for verification before publicizing this propaganda.
Ms. Cinta Kaipat and friends, you have a problem now to keep your housemaid?
The solution is right on the tip of your nose, post a JVA better yet an ad to your favorite local newspaper, say that it is NOT for renewal and US citizen or locals can apply!
Good luck!
Juan Dela Cruz-Dan Buniag,
Do you mean PL 14-8 that was signed into law by Governor Juan N. Babauta? Do you mean the law that came about while Rey Yana was taking the case Sabangan v. Powell to the 9th Circuit and winning--getting U.S. citizenship for those kids (not some CNMI immediate relative nonsense that could be taken away with the next bill)?
Do you really think anything Fitial has done means that Fitial is a good guy? That he has a desire and concern for the rights of foreign workers (or anyone)?
Because it doesn't. He doesn't.
He may occasionally sponsor actions that have positive repurcussions--like the umbrella permits. But he's not doing this out of the goodness of his heart or his concern for foreign workers. He's got an ulterior motive. He's looking after his "sponsors."
As Wendy has so frequently pointed out, if he really cared, he would never have opposed the grant of status that was in the original/predecessor bills and working drafts of the bills that eventually resulted in P.L. 110-229. He would never have said he planned on deporting all those protestors who must be illegal anyway. He would not have supported the years of trafficking and other labor abuses; he would not have signed P.L. 15-108 which perpetuates the 2-tiered system of rights and penalties; he would not have been the right hand of Willie Tan in the CNMI. He would be someone else.
If you want to vote for Fitial, exercise your vote--but at least know the facts. At least see the man for who he really is and what he is really doing to our community and our values.
The translation for what Juan dela cruz said is --- He said Dan B is sip sip (kissing up) for asking his countrymen to vote for a governor who hurt them. He said Dan B and his wife have jobs with the governor and want to keeps them even asking Filipinos to turn against each other. Dan B. don't care if all workers go home as long as he keeps his Fitial job. Juan dela Cruz said he'd rather vote for Satan then Fitial. He said Dan B is a traitor. Then he put the traitor letter Dan B. wrote to get the Filipinos to vote for Fitial.
Let's respect their vote, but asking others to vote for your candidate need you to exercise proper explaining; making something plain or intelligible so that others understand because "others" are not idiot... but asking them favor too late while your candidate's views on race got him into political hot water will only boil the water more.
Let's speak the language our paychecks are written in. Sheeesh..this thread is turning into a "John Gonzales Live" show.
i thought i might vote for angelo, but unless he makes a public statement against cinta's comments, i can not, with a clear concious vote for someone with such racist views.
This thread is turning into a "John Gonzales Live" show?
Only to those too illiterate to even tell the difference between Tagalog and Chamorro, much less actually understand either one.
I think you mean to say Mining Director Green Gonzales' Covenant Hour
In the news this week? B & E
(btw. what does a Mining Director do when he's not on tv?)
People here are speaking Tagalog more and more to the point it is like S. Florida or the SW speaking Spanish.
One goal of federalization that will be acheived is keeping more local island culture through langauge.
The chamber of commerce will ask for a h-2 only classification here as a means to lower the CW's to zero...what do you think about that Wendy?
t's not likely that we'll see a CNMI-only H2 visa. That would require an act of Congress to amend the INA, and could not be done by regulation. H2 workers are temporary under the INA. Attempting to create a new INA visa category for unskilled workers that are not temporary would raise the ire of conservatives in Congress, who might see it as a precedent for legalizing millions of unskilled illegal immigrants in the rest of the U.S
The chamber is not trying to lower the CW to zero. That's already called for by the CNRA.
The chamber wants to maintain the CW program but just wants to change the name of it--now to H2 CNMI. But they're not really trying for an H2 program--they just want the same old same old.
Post a Comment