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Labor sanctions 2 workers for filing frivolous complaint
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Posted on Dec 05 2005
The Department of Labor’s Division of the Administrative Office has sanctioned two alien workers for filing a frivolous complaint against Marianas Garment Manufacturer, Inc.
Administrative Hearing Officer Jerry Cody barred Wang Sai Ping and Li Yan from working in the CNMI as a nonresident worker for a period of four years.
Cody ordered Wang and Li to pay reasonable attorneys’ fees incurred by MGM in defending the case against them.
Cody asked MGM to submit an itemized accounting of its attorney’s fees within 15 days.
Wang and Li already left the CNMI.
Wang and Li were among the 11 former MGM employees who filed labor claims against the company. Wang and Li testified as to their claims, but later moved to withdraw their claims and requested to be repatriated to China.
The hearing officer approved the requests, but left open the issues of attorney’s fees and sanction.
Labor records show that the complaint listed 10 allegations against MGM such, poor workplace conditions, discrimination, verbal abuse, no contract, unfair treatment, and among others.
The Department of Labor investigated the complaint and concluded that the case had no merit and was frivolous.
Cody agreed with the department that the allegations are “frivolous and unfounded, lacking in factual or legal merit and interposed for the ulterior motive of obtaining a Temporary Work Authorization.”
