28 Jun 2012

CNMI business group says members need foreign workers

10:43 am on 28 June 2012

The largest business group in the Northern Marianas says the island's economic meltdown will worsen if they are deprived of skilled foreign workers.

The Saipan Chamber of Commerce says it supports a five-year extension of the transition period for federalization.

The Chamber says it's members will continue to need foreign national employees to supplement the small numbers of U.S. potential hires in the CNMI.

The group says local employees, once trained or after having received their formal education, head to other U.S. jurisdictions for employment.

Last week, Governor Benigno Fitial backed a five-year extension of the transition period, citing the continued need for skilled foreign workers that the CNMI local labor pool still could not fill.