Northern Mariana Islands Labor Stabilization Act

Key Points

• This bill extends a special guest worker program for the Northern Mariana Islands until at least 2039. The program was originally set to end in 2029, but this change gives the islands ten more years to use foreign labor for local jobs.
• It limits the number of foreign worker permits to 15,000 each year. It also adds 3,000 extra permits specifically for construction and mining projects to help with local building needs.
• The bill changes how much these workers must be paid. Employers must pay at least 75 percent of the standard wage for that job or the federal minimum wage, whichever is higher.
• Foreign workers who have lived and worked in the islands for many years can now get permits that last for three years instead of just one. This helps long-term workers and their employers plan for the future.
• Certain long-term residents will gain access to some public benefits. The bill also helps some workers who had minor immigration status issues stay and work legally if they have been in the islands since 2020.
• Companies will pay a $150 fee for every foreign worker they hire under this program. This money will be used by the government to make sure immigration laws are being followed on the islands.

Impact Analysis

Govbase has not yet run an impact analysis on this legislation.