1. Marian Aldan-Pierce July 5, 2017
Saipan Chamber of Commerce Importance of documenting efforts to recruit non-CW workers
Marian Aldan-Pierce
July 5, 2017
Good afternoon:
I want to thank the Chamber for having me here to make this VERY short presentation.
Over the past several months, you have heard of the formation of the Northern Marianas Business Alliance Corporation.
The NMBAC was organized earlier this year for the promotion of common economic development interests of businesses in the CNMI.
We have representatives working towards this end in Washington DC. At a telephone conference we had early last week, we
were apprised of a meeting that took place there, and I am here to explain what came out of that and what we need to do to have continued
access to CW workers beyond 2019.
This is the first presentation we are doing on this urgent topic but we will bring the same to other organizations. We are all in this together.

2. Why do we need documentation?
Concern amongst key policymakers that CNMI’s business community is not doing enough to recruit US workers
Under the impression that little – if any – efforts to recruit non-CW workers
Due to this impression, Congress enacted legislation in to end CW program
We need reverse that law
We need to take affirmative steps to recruit not just locally, but from FAS, Guam, Hawaii, USA
Why do we need documentation?
Why do we need documentation?
There is significant concern amongst key policymakers in the US Senate that the CNMI’s business community is not doing enough to recruit US workers
At the outset of federalization, they got impression that we made little – if any – efforts to recruit non-CW workers. We know that this is not true,
but the perception is there that we have not taken the probable loss of this very important program seriously.
Because of these and other reasons, the decision was made to end the CW program over time in legislation that Congress enacted in 2014.
We are now in the process to reverse that law
But to be successful, we need to take affirmative steps to recruit not just locally, but from off island

3. Recruitment Documentation
If efforts to recruit US workers not successful, then the business community will have done all it can do to help underscore the fact that foreign labor is a critical component of the CNMI’s growing economy.
Trend in Washington is to eliminate guest worker programs
The CNMI has special and unique circumstances.
Need to document efforts to justify continuation of the CW program
If, after efforts to recruit US workers have not been successful, then we will have done all we can do to help underscore the fact that foreign labor is a critical component of the CNMI’s growing economy.
The apparent trend in Washington DC is to eliminate guest worker programs like our CW.
We have special and unique circumstances. (in the middle of the ocean; surrounded by water; quite isolated; people cannot drive to Saipan; etc. )
The onus is on us to show what efforts we have taken to justify the continuation of the CW program.

4. Recruitment Documentation
Various forms of recruitment activities are already taking place.
We just need to document these efforts
We must carefully document and catalogue all efforts being made to recruit non-CW workers
Catalogue job ads placed in newspapers and on line
How many applied
How many were offered jobs
How long did they stay?
If they left early, why did they leave?
Recruitment Documentation
We know that various forms of recruitment activities are already taking place.
These efforts need to be documented
We must carefully document and catalogue everything that we do to recruit non-CW workers
We need to catalogue job ads that are placed in newspapers and online with lots of details:
How many applied
How many were offered jobs
How long did they stay?
If they are no longer with us, why did they leave?

5. Objective: to form a binder full of dates of job fairs with the following details:
Date/Time/Location
Any advertisement done beforehand
How many people showed up
How many applied for jobs
How many were offered jobs.
How long did they stay?
Why did they leave?
Photos, photos, photos, photos
Include details of regular recruitment efforts as well.
Objective
Our objective is to form a binder full of dates of all job fairs that have taken place or are scheduled detailed as follows:
Date/Time/Location
Any advertisement done beforehand
How many people showed up
How many applied for jobs
How many were offered jobs.
How long did they stay
Why did they leave
And please take LOTS of Photos
This binder should also include details of regular recruitment efforts as well.

6. Off island recruitment
Some companies have gone off island to recruit
If not successful, why not?
Of those offered jobs and came to Saipan, how many are left.
Of those who left, why did they leave?
Need to not only prove efforts to recruit workers but also that the CNMI is a difficult place for US-nationals to work
Tight housing situation on island
Off island recruitment
Some companies have gone off island to recruit or hired off island recruitment services
One company went to Puerto Rico – no one wanted to come to the CNMI – what were their reasons? Is it because of family? Is it the distance?
We know of another which actually brought workers from across the US and other places.
Of those who actually came to Saipan, how many are still here.
Of those who left, how long did they stay and why did they leave?
We need as much detail as possible.
We need to not only prove what great efforts the business community makes to recruit workers but we also need to prove that the CNMI is a difficult place for US-nationals to work
For those who bring people in from off island, how has the tight housing situation on island impacted your efforts? We are severely lacking in the affordable and safe housing area.

7. Documentation for 2016 and YTD 2017 should be submitted ASAP to the Chamber office. Bi-weekly thereafter.
NMBAC will compile documentation from all other organizations for submission to the Governor’s/Delegate’s office
IN CLOSING
If we want access to foreign workers beyond 2019, it is of utmost importance to show our efforts to recruit non-CW workers. We cannot just say that we are doing it – we have to prove it – through detailed documentation.
Where to submit
Documentation for 2016 and YTD 2017 recruitment efforts should be submitted to the Chamber office ASAP. Thereafter, bi-weekly should be good. NMBAC will compile information received from all organizations for submission to the Governor’s/Delegate’s office
IN CLOSING
If we want continued access to foreign workers beyond 2019, it is of utmost importance to show our efforts to recruit non-CW workers. We cannot just say that we are doing it – we have to prove it – and we do this through detailed documentation. We are all in this together, and you have to do your part because there is not one person or one organization that can do all this and please remember that if we fail, this is it…there are no other options out there. We cannot emphasize enough the importance of getting this done.
Thank you for your time.