AT a presentation for the Saipan Chamber of Commerce on Wednesday, CNMI Department of Labor Secretary Leila Staffler made an impassioned plea to island businesses to “change the culture” of employees and employment in the Commonwealth.
Staffler was the guest speaker at Wednesday’s general membership meeting for the SCC at Kensington Hotel. She was invited to speak about the changes coming to the department’s website.
To that end, Staffler said certain forms like the “Total Workforce Listing and Workforce Plan” and instructional manuals are available for download on the website.
Staffler said workforce data helps ensure that businesses are compliant with P.L. 15-108, or the Commonwealth Employment Act of 2007, which states that employers must give U.S. citizens and permanent residents preferential hiring over non-citizens.
Precise language in the “Findings and purpose” section of the law states “that employers in the Commonwealth provide jobs to citizens and permanent residents that amount to at least thirty percent (30%) of the employer’s work force.”
Staffler said adequate data reporting allows her department to assist businesses that do not meet the requirement to have a workforce composed of 30% citizens and permanent residents.
“[DOL] won’t know the gaps until we get those plans,” Staffler said, adding that businesses not in compliance with the Commonwealth Employment Act of 2007 can take advantage of DOL programs to help meet the need.
Staffler said employers can seek the assistance of the Workforce Investment Agency Division, the Employment Services Division, and the DOL Apprenticeship Program.
“If you’ve connected to the programs and you still can’t find the workforce you need, then I can make sure that I give you some kind of conditional compliance or waiver of sorts to show your efforts,” Staffler told SCC members.
The DOL secretary also talked about the employability of a local workforce.
“It is possible with effort and focused training — we can make a change in culture,” Staffler said.
She added that she is aware of the negative reputation some citizens and permanent residents have as employees.
“I hear it all the time. These workers don’t want to come to work, or they have a bad time with attendance,” Staffler said.
But she pointed out that in her time as principal of Kagman High School, the school likewise had the “worst reputation on island,” but that change occurred after a concerted effort to do so.
View the article here: https://www.mvariety.com/news/dol-secretary-asks-employers-to-change-the-culture/article_78fc7410-0543-11ee-98d7-87311f4b74a9.html
