Upload
api-26784019
View
215
Download
0
Embed Size (px)
Citation preview
8/14/2019 Second Floor Afeta Square Building, San Antonio, P.O. Box
1/12
COMMONWEALTH OF THE NORTHERN MARIANAISLANDSDEPARTMENTOF LABOR
OFFICE OF THE SECRETARYSecond Floor Afeta Squar e Building, San Antonio, P.O. Box 10007, Saipan, MP 96950
Telephone no. (670) 236-0908 or 0903 Facsimile no. (670) 236-0992
GIL M. SAN NICOLAS CINTA M. KAIPADeputy SecretarSecretary
TO: Evelyn C. Fleming, House Clerk
Dolores S. Bermudes, Senate Clerk
FROM: Cinta M. Kaipat, Deputy Secretary of Labor/cmk
DATE: May 18, 2009
SUBJECT: Proposed Changes to Labor Regulations
I am transmitting herewith proposed changes to the Labor Rules and Regulations.
/cmk
Attachments
8/14/2019 Second Floor Afeta Square Building, San Antonio, P.O. Box
2/12
PUBLICNOTICEOF PROPOSED RULES AND REGULATIONS
WHICH ARE AMENDMENTS TO
THE EMPLOYMENT RULES AND REGULATIONSISSUED BY THE SECRETARY OF LABOR
INTENDED ACTION TO ADOPT THESE PROPOSED RULES AND REGULATIONS: The
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Secretary of Labor, intends to adopt as
permanent regulations the attached Proposed Regulations, pursuant to the procedures of the
Administrative Procedure Act, 1 CMC 9104(a). The Regulations would become effective 10
days after adoption. (1 CMC 9105(b))
AUTHORITY: The Secretary of Labor is authorized to promulgate regulations pertaining toemployment of citizens, permanent residents, and foreign national workers pursuant to PL 15-
108 4530, 4606, 4961, 4971, and 4972.
THE TERMS AND SUBSTANCE: The proposed revisions are to provide additional
opportunities for the employment of U.S. citizens, to advance the phase-out of the moratorium,
to suspend the provisions for periodic exit until the uncertainties of the federalization law are
resolved, and to decrease the Departments paperwork burdens and make certain other
administrative changes.
A SUMMARY OF THE SUBJECTS AND ISSUES INVOLVED:
These rules and regulations are promulgated:
1. To broaden the requirement to post job vacancy announcements on the
Departments free website so that job opportunities are made known within the
community and to increase the requirements for an exemption from the workforce
participation requirement of 20% U.S. citizens in order to promote the employment of
U.S. citizens;
2. To advance the phase-out of the moratorium to July 1, 2009 in order to increase
flexibility for local businesses under the current adverse economic circumstances
and to suspend the provisions for periodic exit until the uncertainties of the
federalization law are resolved so that local businesses are not faced with potentially
conflicting requirements;
8/14/2019 Second Floor Afeta Square Building, San Antonio, P.O. Box
3/12
3. To simplify the provisions for part-time employment of foreign national workers in
order to decrease the paperwork burdens on local employers;
4. To simplify the regulations with respect to deductions from wages in light of minimum
wage increases;
5. To eliminate or simplify certain paperwork burdens on the Department and to make
minor adjustments in fees;
6. To provide guidelines for judicial review of final agency actions.
CITATION OF RELATED AND/OR AFFECTED STATUTES, RULES AND REGULATIONS.
These proposed regulations will supersede the designated sections of Title 20, Chapter 30,
Subchapters 30.1, 30.2, and 30.3 of the N.M.I. Administrative Code and by adding Subchapters
30.4 and 30.5 of the N.M.I. Administrative Code.
DIRECTIONS FOR FILING AND PUBLICATION: These Proposed Regulations shall be
published in the Commonwealth Register in the section on proposed and newly adopted
regulations (1 CMC 9102(a)(1)) and posted in convenient places in the civic center and in
local government offices in each senatorial district, both in English and in the principal
vernacular. (1 CMC 9104(a)(1))
TO PROVIDE COMMENTS: Send or deliver your comments to the Secretary of Labor, Gil San
Nicolas, c/o Eli Golub, Labor Counsel, at P.O. Box 10007, Saipan, MP 96950, or by fax at 236-
0991 or by email at [email protected], with the subject line Proposed Regulations.
Comments are due within 30 days from the date of publication of this notice. Please submit
your data, views or proposed changes. (1 CMC 9104(a)(2))
Submitted by: _/s/________________________ ____________
Gil M. San Nicolas Date
Secretary of Labor
Received by: _/s/_________________________ _____________
ESTHER S. FLEMING Date
Governors Special Assistant for Administration
mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]8/14/2019 Second Floor Afeta Square Building, San Antonio, P.O. Box
4/12
Filed and
Recorded by: _/s/_________________________ ______________
ESTHER SAN NICOLAS Date
Commonwealth Register
Pursuant to 1 CMC 2153(e) (AG approval of regulations to be promulgated as to form) and 1
CMC 9104(a)(3) (obtain AG approval) the proposed regulations attached hereto have been
reviewed and approved as to form and legal sufficiency by the CNMI Attorney General and shall
be published, 1 CMC 2153(f) (publication of rules and regulations).
Dated the ____ day of May, 2009
__/s/_____________________________
GREGORY BAKA
Acting Attorney General
8/14/2019 Second Floor Afeta Square Building, San Antonio, P.O. Box
5/12
Rev 051 Page 1
PROPOSEDCHANGESINTHELABORREGULATIONS
SUBCHAPTER8020 DEPARTMENTOFLABOR
Section8020.1 Delegationofauthority. TheSecretaryofLaborherebydelegatesauthority underthe
CommonwealthEmploymentActof2007,PL15108;theMinimumWageandHourActasamended;
andPublic
Laws
No.
11
6,
12
11,
and
12
58
to
the
Director
of
Employment
Services,
the
Director
of
Labor,andthehearingofficersintheAdministrativeHearingOffice.Writtendelegationofauthority
previouslyissuedshallremaininfullforceandeffectuntilrescinded,altered,ormodifiedas
circumstancesrequire. AdelegationoftheSecretarysauthoritytotheDeputySecretaryshalloccur
whenevertheSecretaryisoffisland.
***
SUBCHAPTER8030 EMPLOYMENTOFCITIZENSANDPERMANENTRESIDENTS
Section30.2 Privatesectoremploymentpreferences
Section30.2
400
Job
referral
30.2445 Nowaivers. Therearenowaiversavailablewithrespecttothepublication
requirement.
***
30.2450 Publicationfiling. Whenajobvacancyannouncementispublishedonthe
Departmentswebsite,nofilingofproofofpublicationisrequired. Ifthejobvacancy
announcementispublishedelsewheretofulfilltherequirementsof30.2440(a),theemployer
mustfilewithEmploymentServices,nolaterthanthirty(30)daysfromlastpublication, a
statementorinvoicefromtheproviderofpublicationservicesshowingthedatesonwhichthe
jobvacancyannouncementwaspublished.
***
30.2460Cancellationofthejobvacancyannouncement. EmploymentServicesmaycancela
jobvacancyannouncementordenycertificationifinsufficientreasonsarestatedforfailureto
hireorifnostatementisreceivedwithin14days. Adenialmaybeappealedtothe
AdministrativeHearingOfficewithinfifteen(15)daysafterthedateofthedenial. (SeeSection
8050.4155.)
***
30.2480Workforceplan.
8/14/2019 Second Floor Afeta Square Building, San Antonio, P.O. Box
6/12
Rev 051 Page 2
(b)Employerscovered. Everyemployer,unlessexempted,isrequiredtohaveaworkforceplan.
***
(g) Lossofexemption. AnemployeragainstwhomtwoormorejudgmentsinlaborcasesorconsolidatedagencycasesareenteredinDepartmentproceedingswithinany
twoyearperiodautomaticallylosesanyapplicableexemptionandaplanmustbefiled
withEmployment
Services
within
30
days
of
the
entry
of
the
second
judgment.
No
administrativeproceedingisrequiredtoremovetheexemption. Ajudgmentfor
purposesofthissubsectionisafinalaction,whichincludesadecisionofahearing
officerthathasnotbeenappealedwithinthetimeallowed,oradecisionofthe
Secretaryonamatterthathasbeenappealedwithinthetimeallowed,provided
howeverthatastayoftheremovaloftheexemptionmaybeprovidedbyacourtof
competentjurisdiction. Theexemptionautomaticallybecomesunavailableonthedate
onwhichthesecondjudgmentisentered.Thetermtwojudgmentsincludes
judgmentsintwoseparateactionsorcasesbearingtwoseparatecasenumbers,and
alsoincludesjudgmentswithrespecttotwocomplainantsinthesameactionoracase
bearingonlyonecasenumber.Withinatwoyearperiodforpurposesofthissectionis
any24monthperiod. Thisperioddoesnotrelatetoacalendaryear.
***
Section8030.2600Workforceparticipationbycitizensandpermanentresidents
30.2620 Nowaivers. Therearenowaiversavailablewithrespecttotheparticipation
requirement.
***
Section8030.2700 Exemptions.
30.2705 Employerswithfewerthanfiveemployees. TheprovisionsofSection4525ofPL15108donotapplytoemployerswithfewerthanfiveemployeesexceptasprovidedinthissection
and,withrespecttothissection,donotapplytoowneroperatedbusinesseswithnoemployees
otherthanowners. Forpurposesofthissection,allfulltimeemployeesarecounted. Allretail
establishmentsthathandlefoodstampsshallhaveatleastemployeewhoisacitizenor
permanentresidentafterJune30,2008. Allemployerswithfewerthanfiveemployeesshall
haveatleastoneemployeewhoisacitizenorpermanentresidentafterOctober1,2009. All
suchemployersaresubjecttothejobvacancyannouncementrequirementsforalljob
vacancies.
***
8/14/2019 Second Floor Afeta Square Building, San Antonio, P.O. Box
7/12
Rev 051 Page 3
30.2715 Incentiveexemption. AnincentiveexemptionwithrespecttoSection4521(job
preference)butnotwithrespecttoSection4525(workforceparticipationbycitizens)orSection
452223(jobvacancyannouncementsandreferrals)shallbeavailableifthecitizenand
permanentresidentemployeesinthefulltimeworkforceofanemployerinthatONET
classification exceedssubstantiallythirty(30)percentoftheemployerstotalfulltime
workforceinthesepositions.Theincentivebenchmarkisfifty(50)percentfortheemployers
totalfull
time
work
force
in
the
A
List
and
B
List
jobs
,however
all
job
vacancies
must
be
advertised (SeeSection8030.2205).
***
30.2725 Lossofexemption. Anemployeragainstwhomtwoormorejudgmentsinlabor
casesorconsolidatedagencycasesareenteredinDepartmentproceedingswithinanytwoyear
periodautomaticallylosesanyapplicableexemptionandallprovisionsofPL15108
automaticallybecomeapplicable. Noadministrativeproceedingisrequiredtoremovethe
exemption. Ajudgmentforpurposesofthissectionisafinalaction,whichincludesadecision
ofahearingofficerthathasnotbeenappealedwithinthetimeallowed,oradecisionofthe
Secretaryonamatterthathasbeenappealedwithinthetimeallowed,providedhoweverthata
stay
of
the
removal
of
the
exemption
may
be
provided
by
a
court
of
competent
jurisdiction.
Theexemptionautomaticallybecomesunavailableonthedateonwhichthesecondjudgmentis
entered.Thetermtwojudgmentsincludesjudgmentsintwoseparateactionsorcasesbearing
twoseparatecasenumbers,andalsoincludesjudgmentswithrespecttotwocomplainantsin
thesameactionoracasebearingonlyonecasenumber.Withinatwoyearperiodfor
purposesofthissectionisany24monthperiod. Thisperioddoesnotrelatetoacalendaryear.
***
SUBCHAPTER8040 MORATORIUM
Section8040.1Moratoriumphaseout. Thepreviouslylegislatedmoratoriumonthehiringofforeign
nationalworkersisphasedoutasfollows:
Section40.1
100
Visitor
industry.
As
of
January
1,
2008,
the
moratorium
does
not
apply
to
the
visitorindustry. Thevisitorindustryincludeshotels,airlines,aircraftservices,tourpackagers,
tourguides,touristtransportation,andtouristsports,charters,andrecreationservices.
Section40.1200 Servicesindustry. AsofJanuary1,2009,themoratoriumdoesnotapplyto
theservicesindustry.Theservicesindustryincludesaccountants,lawyers,banksandfinancial
services,medicalandhealthcareservices,maintenanceandrepairandrentalservices,
restaurantsandcateringservices,retailandwholesalesalesandservices,bakerieswithretail
outlets,freightandshippingservices,appraisalandsurveyingservices,andeducationservices.
Section40.1300 Agricultural. AsofJuly1,2009,themoratoriumdoesnotapplyto
agricultural,fishingandfisheries,forestry, andgroundskeepingpositions.
Deleted: .
8/14/2019 Second Floor Afeta Square Building, San Antonio, P.O. Box
8/12
Rev 051 Page 4
Section40.1400 Allother. AsofJuly1,2009,themoratoriumexpireswithrespecttoall
remainingpositions.
***
SUBCHAPTER80
50
EMPLOYMENT
OF
FOREIGN
NATIONAL
WORKERS
Section8050.2 EntryintotheCommonwealth
Section50.2200 Approvedemploymentcontract
50.2205 Application. Anapplicationforapprovalofanemploymentcontractmustbesigned
byadirector,officer,ormanagerofacorporationorotherbusinessorganizationandmust
submittedtotheDirectorofLaboronastandardformprovidedbytheDepartmentinpersonby
anemployeeofacorporationorotherbusinessorganizationwhoshallpresentsufficient
identificationandproofofstatus. Anapplicationmustbesignedandsubmittedinpersonbya
nonbusinessemployer. Nopersonwhoisanagentandnopersonholdingapowerofattorney
maysignorsubmitanapplication. TheDirectorshallreviewtheapplicationtoascertainifitis
complete.
An
incomplete
application
will
not
be
accepted.
The
Director
shall
take
action
on
a
completeapplicationassoonaspracticableafterreceipt,dependingprimarilyonthetime
requiredforinvestigation,ifany,ofrepresentationsmadeintheapplication.TheDirectormay
approveordenytheapplication. Approvaloftheapplicationisanagreementorcontract
betweentheDirectorandtheemployerastothetermsunderwhichtheemployerwilloperate.
Adenialshallbeonastandardform. Nootherdocumentationwithrespecttoadenialis
required. AdenialmaybeappealedtotheAdministrative HearingOffice withinfifteen(15)
daysafterthedateofthedenial. (SeeSection 8050.4155.)
***
Section8050.3 StandardsforEmployment
Section50.3
100
Standard
conditions
of
employment
50.3105(c)(iii): Hiringforparttime. Anemployermayemployaforeignnationalworkerpart
timefornomorethan32hoursamonth. Anemployerwhohassignedanapproved
employmentcontractwithaforeignnationalworkermaynothirethatforeignnationalworker
forparttimework.
***
50.3140(c): Deductionsforemployersuppliedfood,transportation,andotherpurposes.
Allowabledeductionsforemployersuppliedfood,transportationtoandfromtheworksite,
utilitiesforthepersonaluseofaforeignnationalworker,andotherbenefitsorpurposesmaybe
Deleted:
8/14/2019 Second Floor Afeta Square Building, San Antonio, P.O. Box
9/12
Rev 051 Page 5
nomorethantheexpensesactuallyincurredbytheemployerinprovidingsuchbenefitsor$100
permonthfornonbusinessemployers.
***
50.3155 Contractextension,contractamendmentandreductioninhours.
(a)An
extension
to
an
existing
approved
employment
contract
for
up
to
six
months
may
be
agreedbythepartiesatanytimeduringthetermofthecontractandfiledwiththe
DepartmentonthestandardformprovidedbytheDepartmentforthatpurpose.
(b) Achange(amendment)toanexistingapprovedemploymentcontractmaybeimplementedorperformedonlywithprioragreementofbothpartiestothecontractandwithprior
submissiononastandardformprovidedbytheDepartment,providedhoweverthathours
maynotbereducedbelowthirtytwo(32)perweek.
(c) Acontractextensionoramendmentdoesnotrequirepriorapprovalof,butmaybedeniedby,theDirectorofLabor. AdenialbytheDirectormaybeappealedtotheAdministrative
HearingOfficewithinfifteen(15)daysafterthedateofthedenial. (SeeSection8050.4
155.)
***
Section50.3300 Contractrenewal,nonrenewal,andtermination
50.3305(d): Documents. Arequestforrenewalshallbeaccompaniedbycopiesofan
approvedemploymentcontract,anapprovedhealthinsurancecontract(afterthedateonwhich
theSecretaryofPublicHealthpublishesfinalregulationsinthatregard),andanapproved
securitycontractcoveringtheforeignnationalworkertoberenewed. Anemployermaysubmit
anewemploymentcontractwithnewtermsasnecessary. Arequestforrenewalmaybe
submittedandapprovedwithoutanaccompanyinghealthcertificate,butthehealthcertificate
mustbesubmittedwithinsixty(60)daysofapprovalortherenewalissubjecttorevocation. A
requestfor
renewal
may
be
submitted
and
approved
ifthe
Job
Vacancy
Announcement
is
on
file
(online),buttheJVAmustbecertifiedwithin sixty(60)daysofapprovalortherenewalis
subjecttorevocation.
***
Section50.3400 Transferbyadministrativeorder.
50.3420. Extensionoftime. Extensionsoftimewithinwhichtolocateanemployermaybe
grantedbytheAdministrative HearingOfficeuponapplicationsubmittedwithinten(10)days
8/14/2019 Second Floor Afeta Square Building, San Antonio, P.O. Box
10/12
Rev 051 Page 6
afterexpirationoftheinitialperiodoftimewithinwhichtolocateanemployerandassumption
offullresponsibilitybytheforeignnationalworkerformedicalandotherexpenseswithan
appropriateguaranteeundertermsacceptabletothehearingofficerandpaymentofafee.
50.3422. Objectionstoproposedtransfer. TheDirectorofEmploymentServicesshall
circulatetoallSectionswithintheDepartmenteachrequestforpermissiontotransferreceived
byEmploymentServices. Ifnoobjectionisreceived,ahearingofficermayissueanorder
grantingpermissiontotransfer. Ifanobjectionisreceived,ahearingofficershallconducta
hearingon
the
objection
and
the
burden
of
proof
is
on
the
objecting
officer
of
the
Department.
***
Section50.3500 Reductionsinforce
50.3540 Limitationsonnewhiresofforeignnationalworkers.
(a)Onislandhires. Anemployerwhohaslaidoffcitizens,permanentresidents,orforeignnationalworkersshallbebarredforaperiodof90daysfromtheeffective
dateoftermination.fromhiringanynewforeignnationalworkerstoworkintheO
NETjobclassificationsheldbylaidoffworkers
(b)Offislandhires. Anemployerwhohaslaidoffcitizens,permanentresidents,orforeignnationalworkersshallbebarredforaperiodofsixmonthsfollowingthe
effectivedateofterminationfromhiringforeignnationalworkersfromoffislandto
workintheONETjobclassificationsheldbylaidoffworkers.
***
50.3545 Pendingapplicationsforapprovedemploymentcontracts. Uponreceiptofnotice
fromanemployerofareductioninforce,downsizingorpartialclosure,theDirectorshall
immediatelydenyallpendingapplicationsfiledbytheemployertohireforeignnationalworkers
fromoffisland.
***
Section50.4 Adjudicationofdisputes
Section50.4700 Ordersandrelief
50.4725Whistleblowerrelief. Inordertopromotethepublicinterestinsecuringcompliance
withCommonwealthlaw,aforeignnationalworkerwhoprovidestheDepartmentwith
informationonthebasisofwhichacomplianceagencycaseisbroughtmaybegranteda
transferbyahearingofficerevenifnotqualifiedunderSection8050.4720above.
***
8/14/2019 Second Floor Afeta Square Building, San Antonio, P.O. Box
11/12
Rev 051 Page 7
Section50.4900 Judicialreview. JudicialreviewofafinalactionoftheSecretaryisauthorized
afterexhaustionofalladministrative remedies. AppealfromafinalactionbytheSecretaryshall
bedirectlytotheCommonwealthSuperiorCourtandshallbeinitiatedwithinthirty(30)daysof
thefinalaction.
Exceptas
otherwise
required
by
arule
of
the
Commonwealth
Superior
Court,
the
pleading
initiatingjudicial reviewshallbeaPetition for JudicialReview. ThePetition shall identify the
orderoftheSecretarybeingappealedandtheorderoftheAdministrativeHearingOfficethat
wasappealedtotheSecretaryandshallattachcopiesofboth. ThePetitionshallsetouteach
groundforappealinsummaryforminaseparatenumberedparagraph,andshallstatethatthe
requirementsoftheCommonwealthEmploymentActwithrespecttoappealsoffinalordersof
theSecretaryhavebeenmet.
***
SUBCHAPTER8060 OTHERPROVISIONS
Section60.8 Fees. ThefollowingfeesshallbecollectedbytheDepartment. Allfeesarenonrefundableandnontransferableunlessotherwiseprovidedintheseregulations.
6. Applicationforparttimeemployment $40.0013. Penaltyfeeforuntimelyrenewal (limit60days) $5.00/day14. Processingatemporaryworkauthorization (6months) $150.0015. Renewaloftemporaryworkauthorization (permonth) $25.0016. Mediationoflabordisputes Nofee17. Filingalaborcomplaint (perperson) $20.0018. Filingan appealtotheSecretary(perperson,exceptinagencycases) $40.00
19. AppealtotheHearingOffice (perperson) $25.0027. Contractextensions(uptosixmonths) $35/month
***
Section60.9 Statisticaldata
Deleted: 15
Deleted: 50
Deleted:
Deleted: 25
8/14/2019 Second Floor Afeta Square Building, San Antonio, P.O. Box
12/12
Rev 051 Page 8
Section60.9200 Standarddatasets. TheDepartmentwillpublishonitswebsiteandprovideto
the Department of Commerce quarterly statistics with respect to the number of permit
transactionswithinindustrycategories.
***
Section60.12 Transition
Section60.12335 EffectofPL110229. Inorder topromote recovery from severelyadverse
economicconditions, toaccommodate theuncertaintieswith respect to implementationofPL
110229(thefederalizationlaw),tominimizecostsimposedonbusinesses,andtoallowthelabor
departmenttofunctionefficientlyunderasubstantiallyreducedbudget,therequirementsofthe
periodicexithavebeensuspendeduntilfurtherpublicationofregulations.
***