A group in the Northern Marianas conducting an audit of private sector jobs is proposing that businesses who employ foreigners should be taxed.
The Public Auditor Michael Sablan, who is part of the collaborative project between government and private sector, said that the CNMI is considering a disincentive levy to discourage the hiring of nonresident workers.
Mr Sablan says the tax, which would be charged per employee per month, would level the playing field among those employers who pay more than the minimum wage to attract residents, and those who choose to hire nonresidents at a cheaper rate.
He told the Saipan Tribune newspaper that heavier penalties should be imposed against employers who violate restrictions.
