Patsy T. Mink: “I have introduced a bill today that will allow the people of the CNMI to decide whether they will abide by all of the…”

“I have introduced a bill today that will allow the people of the CNMI to decide whether they will abide by all of the laws of the United States or whether they chose to seek independence. Reports of abuses in the CNMI are not new. Reports surfaced as long as 13 years ago. In response, Congress directed the establishment of a joint program with the CNMI to respond to this widening range of abuses. After 3 years, these agencies investigating these abuses report the negative trends worsening. They report: Chinese garment and construction workers sign shadow contracts with a government recruitment agency before leaving China for employment in the CNMI. These contracts restrict their civil rights and threaten to return them to China if workers make labor complaints while in the CNMI. Wages for domestic maids average $0.64 an hour for an average work week of 72 hours. The domestic service sector averages the highest percentage of labor complaints out of all sectors. Many businesses in the CNMI are not subject to the Fair Labor Standards Act, resulting in their failing to pay the employees, going bankrupt and eventually going into another line of business under a different name. The CNMI does not require visas for investors. A business entry permit allows foreign businessmen to enter the CNMI with $50,000 to set up a business. There is no evidence that the CNMI verifies or authenticates the amount, nature, or source of the claimed investment.”