Jobs getting hard to find in Marianas—report

Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz

The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) has warned Filipino doctors, nurses and other professional medical workers about applying for jobs in the Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas Islands (CNMI), saying that latest reports indicated a dire economic situation in the US trust territory.

Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz, citing a recent report from the Philippine consulate in Saipan, said opportunities for Filipino doctors and nurses at the lone hospital in the CNMI, the Commonwealth Health Center (CHC), may be available as the medical facility has been beset with resignations and demoralized staff.

However, the report added that due to the gloomy economic situation in the CNMI, the CHC may not have the financial capacity to hire new medical workers.

“Due to the current economic situation, Saipan, the capital of CNMI, may not be a viable destination for medical workers, or any other skills categories for that matter,” the report said.

The report further said there was a virtual standstill in CHC operations but no official declaration of a shutdown of operations has been announced. Actual observations and news accounts, however, pointed to a standstill at the facility, according to the DOLE. Tina G. Santos