DOLI OK’s transfer of Eurotex workers

Labor and Immigration Sec. Mark D. Zachares has granted all nonresident workers of Eurotex (Saipan) Inc. permit to transfer to seek permanent employers after the beleaguered garment manufacturing firm abandoned them.

In issuing the decision last Friday, he reversed an earlier ruling made by Hearing Officer Vicente C. Seman of the Department of Labor and Immigration that denied the workers permanent transfer relief.

About 183 affected employees of the garment factory had sought the transfer following their complaint of unpaid wages that were not given to them for three months. DOLI’s Division of Labor issued a notice of violation in September against Eurotex on behalf of the workers.

According to Mr. Zachares, the company has neglected its workers by not giving them their provisions, such as food and electricity, since Oct. 20 when it filed bankruptcy in the U.S. District Court.

Last week, the CNMI government even purchased 1,700 gallons of diesel fuel so that the workers would continue to have power in the staff housing, he said.

Eurotex also has not stocked food for the workers since Oct. 20 and its supplies were estimated to have run out last Tuesday, added the DOLI chief.

“We are extremely disturbed by this company’s blatant disregard towards its legal, if not more importantly, it’s moral obligation to ensure the health, safety and welfare of their employees,” Mr. Zachares in his decision.

“This company represents the worst of an industry already under fire. Their callous behavior towards their former employees tarnishes the image of the vast majority of law-abiding companies within the CNMI,” he explained. “This Department will not hesitate to punish offenders of our labor and immigration laws regardless of industry affiliations.”

Chinese workers of Eurotex in recent weeks had staged protest marches from their factory in San Vicente to the U.S. labor office in Garapan to air their grievances against their employer and to plead their case to both the CNMI and federal authorities.

Partial payment was made about a month ago to some 300 workers after federal labor officials began disbursing about $600,000 to pay their back wages.

The settlement was made possible after some of the buyers and retailers of the company sent money to ensure the continued shipment of goods, DOLI officials said at that time.

Mr. Zachares said Friday issues regarding monetary relief would be reviewed by his department in next scheduled hearings of the case.

The workers were expecting payment of close to a million dollars which represent their unpaid wages, officials said.

The Saipan Garment Manufacturers Association has suspended Eurotex as member on the heels of the reports of non-payment of wages.