Report or Not To Report to CNMI DOL: Rota Nurses Receive Minimum Wage Backpay.

I question the headline and some of the facts in the Saipan Tribune

This whole story is a big mess. The nurses were ordered by the CNMI DOL to report to Labor to find a new employer. The nurses are still reporting in violation of the DOL order to a CNMI Government facility, and working without getting paid. Apparently $16,000 was appropriated to pay the nurses miniumum wage for the past 2 months, but what exactly does that mean? The nurses have a contract with SEAS Employment Agency, so do they get the $16,000, or does the agency receive the money? And what about the additional $184,000 the CNMI Government owes SEAS?

The nurses are quoted in the Saipan Tribune that they would like to work directly with the CNMI Government because they are not paid on time, but the reason they are not paid is because the CNMI Government is not paying SEAS.

Back in 2003 SEAS supplied most of the nurses to CHC as well. The CNMI Government decided to hire the nurses directly because of the high turnover of the manpower nurses.

Show me the money! SEAS Nurses in Rota unpaid for 2 months

read article in Saipan Tribune

I'm not sure who is to blame. CNMI DOL sanctions SEAS for not paying $5,000 and the CNMI Government owes SEAS $200,000. How are they supposed to pay their nurses and their labor award. SEAS is responsible for medical referral transportation in Manila and subcontracts nurses in Tinian and Rota. Hopefully this problem can be resolved, and hopefully the nurses will be paid.

SEAS Nurse Staffing Agency has labor permits revoked again.

Read article in the Marianas Variety.

I hate writing about bad news, but it seems that the SEAS Nurse Staffing Agency had all their nurses' work permits revoked, again. Apparently their previous unpaid medical claim of $20,000 is still partially outstanding. There was talk about how the workers weren't paid for 3 months previously and now this. I feel bad for the employees.