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

2. Where we were before WTO (2005) and US PL 110-229 Local immigration control 1978-2009 The CNMI had 34 garment factories $80M direct revenue from the garment industry 40,420 were employed in 2004

3. 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

4. US PL 110-229 CNRA Consolidated Natural Resources Act Came into effect 2009 CNMI umbrella permits issued 2009-2011 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, 2014 5 year extension if approved will end 2019

5. Approved CWs for CNMI A Gradual Reduction

6. Number of CWs Issued to Date 10, 655 - As of December 24, 2013 FY 12 – 7054 approved beneficiaries (FOIA) FY 13 - 9617 approve beneficiaries (FOIA) – Total FY 12/FY 13 Combined – 16,671 (FOIA) Number of Foreign Workers in CNMI Year 2012 14,199 Year 201117,073 Year 2010 16,743 Year 2009 18,053

7. 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.744 500 E2-C Investor Visas Minimum wage – S.256

8. Transition Time Clocks December 2014December 2019

9. We have to be Bullish Pre/During/Post Transition

10. 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)

11. Saipan Job Fair Results (Nov. 2013)

12. Rota and Tinian Job Fair (Jan. 2014)

16. Thank You