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‘Not a penny went to Concorde’
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Posted on Dec 13 2006
Its Chinese workers paid recruitment fees to work at Concorde Garment Manufacturing Inc. but not a penny of that fee went to Concorde, according to the company’s legal counsel.
Steve Pixley clarified yesterday that paying the recruitment fee is part of the overseas hiring process in China and is sanctioned by the Chinese government, which requires workers to go through its licensed recruiters.
“That money was not paid to Concorde. It’s paid directly to the recruiting agencies. Again, these are all licensed by the Chinese government. At Concorde, we didn’t receive any compensation from the recruiters,” said Pixley.
He said Concorde has decided to use its own money to “reimburse” the workers.
“When this issue of retirement fees came up, the company decided to basically reimburse the workers out of its pocket for recruitment fees, which was done on pro-rated basis,” he said.
Pixley said the company hopes to get reimbursed by the recruiting agencies.
Each Chinese worker reportedly paid some $3,000 each to recruiters before coming to Saipan.
Three representatives of these agencies flew to Saipan this week and held talks with concerned groups, including Concorde.
It was during their discussion with Concorde in Lower Base that garment workers held them in a room overnight against their will.
Before this, the workers held a daylong protest rally Friday to demand for the release of their money—recruitment fee refunds, tab rebates.
On Tuesday, the workers got their recruiters fee refunds.(Liberty DOnes)
