1 Jul 2010

CNMI government employees brace for pay loss

12:54 pm on 1 July 2010

The Fitial administration in the Northern Marianas has asked government employees to prepare for the possibility of a second payless payday tomorrow.

The Saipan Tribune reports that if government employees don't receive their paychecks tomorrow, the earliest they could be paid is Tuesday because Monday is a holiday.

Governor Benigno Fitial's press secretary, Angel Demapan, says the Commonwealth Development Authority has yet to remit an additional two million US dollars to the general fund, which the central government expects to cover the July the 2nd payroll.

Ms Demapan says the only payroll funds so far guaranteed are for police officers, firefighters, corrections officers, doctors and nurses, and positions funded by the federal government.

More than 3,000 government employees missed receiving their pay for the first time on June the 18th and the Legislature rushed an appropriation to ensure the workers were eventually paid.