THE COMMONWEALTH OF THE NORTHERN MARIANA ISLANDS (CNMI) A PERIOD OF TRANSITION

Where we were before WTO (2005) and US PL Local immigration control The CNMI had 34 garment factories $80M direct revenue from the garment industry 40,420 were employed in 2004

The 1976 Covenant Agreement CNMI – Self governance – US citizenship – Exemption from federal immigration laws and certain federal minimum wage provisions US – Foreign Affairs and Defense – Right to apply federal law in exempted areas without consent

US PL CNRA Consolidated Natural Resources Act Came into effect 2009 CNMI umbrella permits issued to allow legal status of foreign workers in the CNMI Calls for the transition of foreign workers by December 2014 Pending 5 year extension request approval from US Secretary of Labor or July 5, year extension if approved will end 2019

Approved CWs for CNMI A Gradual Reduction

Number of CWs Issued to Date 10, As of December 24, 2013 FY 12 – 7054 approved beneficiaries (FOIA) FY approve beneficiaries (FOIA) – Total FY 12/FY 13 Combined – 16,671 (FOIA) Number of Foreign Workers in CNMI Year ,199 Year ,073 Year ,743 Year ,053

Unified Concerns 5 year extension request – CNRA requires US Secretary of Labor (Tom Perez) to decide 180 days prior to December 31, 2014 or July 5, 2014 US Immigration Reform – House version (Gang of Seven) – Senate version S E2-C Investor Visas Minimum wage – S.256

Transition Time Clocks December 2014December 2019

We have to be Bullish Pre/During/Post Transition

Our Strategies Governor’s Target 2014 Task Force was formed CNMI Labor law amended to require all JVAs to be posted on the CNMI DOL Job Bank (Jan, 31, 2014 effective) Sector trainings on-going CNMI DOL transformation initiatives on-going CNMI DOL Enforcement Activities Increased Job Fairs conducted on Saipan, Rota and Tinian Invoked Freedom of Information Act (FOIA)

Saipan Job Fair Results (Nov. 2013)

Rota and Tinian Job Fair (Jan. 2014)

Thank You