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Published: Wednesday July 1, 2009 MYT 11:06:00 AM
Updated: Wednesday July 1, 2009 MYT 12:40:25 PM

Guam governor expects Filipinos to fill jobs


MANILA, Philippines (AP): Thousands of Filipino workers could be hired in the construction of new military bases on the U.S. territory of Guam, the island's governor said during a visit to the Philippines.

Guam will be hiring between 10,000 and 15,000 workers to support the U.S. military buildup, including the relocation of 8,000 Marines and their families from Okinawa over the next few years, Gov. Felix Camacho told reporters in Manila on Tuesday.

He said he expected skilled Filipino workers to fill job demands that cannot be met by local labor alone.

"It is not exclusive but the likelihood is that most will be from the Philippines," Camacho said. Chinese workers will not be hired because of security concerns related to work on military bases, he said.

The buildup will cost at least $15 billion. Japan is covering $6 billion of the bill.

U.S. Rep. Neil Abercrombie of Hawaii said last week that foreign workers won't be allowed to do more than 30 percent of the work on the projects.

The 2010 National Defense Authorization Act requires the minimum wage for all Guam construction projects be at the prevailing wage level for similar work in Hawaii, he said.

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