Government of the Federated States of Micronesia

Eliminating Certain Requirements for Hiring Nonresident Workers

PALIKIR, Pohnpei (FSM Information Service): May 5, 1998 – President
Jacob Nena transmitted to Congress on April 21st a proposed legislation
and urged for its favorable consideration.

The bill would amend section 142 of title 51 of the FSM Code
to eliminate the requirement which says that a nonresident or
a foreign worker must leave the FSM before he or she is re-employed
by a different employer.

Nena assured Congress Speaker Jack Fritz saying that “the
time is ripe to revisit this twelve-year old statutory provision,
the current effect of which is too burdensome on the private
sector that we have collectively decided should be bolstered.”

Nena concluded by saying, “I am transmitting herewith
a proposed bill that if enacted would eliminate this undesirable
requirement. I ask that the Congress consider this measure favorably.”

Its original intent of the subject provision was to ensure
that an FSM employer should try to fill a vacancy with FSM citizens
with similar or comparable qualifications and to repatriate foreign
workers who are no longer needed for the job for which he or
she was initially recruited or employed.