Pacific Daily News. a newspaper based in Guam with widespread circulation both In the Pacific and the United States. The article. "Plans to Strip CNMI of its Labor. Immigration Authority Not Surprising." supports legislation I recently introduced with nearly 40 of our colleagues to bring Immigration and minimum wage policies in the CNMI under Federal jurisdiction. H.R. 1450 also would require that goods made In the CNMI be labeled "Made in USA" only ii all U.S. labor laws were adhered to In the manufacture of the goods. Contrary to promises by the CNMI government to crack down on continuing labor and human rights abuses. the government has actually roiled back worker protections. Just last week. the CNMI governor announced that he will seek to repeal current law that would have provided a 15cent increase In the existing subminimum wage for the garment and construction Industryan increase that would at least have brought the wages of these worker into conformity with other industries. The lowest paid workers in America. these foreign laborersand especially the womenwork tong hours. are often denied overtime wages. live and work in unsanitary and unhealthy conditions. and lace physical and mental abuse from employers. The editorial strongly states Il even a fraction of the numerous allegations ol tolerance for illegal and Immoral recruiting practices. human rights abuses and uncontrolled Immigration are true. the CNMI deserves to be censured." Based on information contained in a report recently released by the Resources Committee. Economic Miracle or Economic Mirage. this threshold is easily met. The Pacific Daily News editorial articulates the concerns of many Members of Congress. religious and human rights organizations. labor unions. and U.S. citizens. when It notes that if the CNMI government and local businesses "want to benefit from Americas reputation. then they need to subscribe to the principles that founded this nation."
Keywords matched
Immigration