by Mindy Aguon

Guam - Insistent that any available jobs must go to our local people first, Vice Speaker B.J. Cruz has introduced a trio of bills aimed at reforming the process in order to ensure temporary alien labor certifications are only given when absolutely necessary. One measure would manage that employers disclose their names, address and phone numbers when advertising job opportunities for temporary alien labor certification.

Another would require the Department of Labor to post all job vacancies for temporary alien labor certification at all mayor's offices, while the third would prohibit H2 workers from hiring or processing these certifications.

"We have received complaints that at some of these companies that it's an H-2 laborer interviewing a prospective local employee and disqualifying them from the positions because they're may be some conflict that exists," he told KUAM News.

The vice speaker has been critical of certifications given by the Department of Labor, as he has seen an increase in job announcements for positions that can be filled by the local workforce rather than foreign laborers.