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Attendance at meetings: Paid or unpaid?
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Posted on Mar 10 2006
Q: Does a non-English speaking worker need to hire a translator or pay a fee to obtain a temporary work authorization?
A: No. If a worker needs help in filing a complaint, he or she should advise A Labor staff. A translator will be provided free of charge. Labor does not charge a fee for a TWA. There is a $20 fee for filing a complaint, but this can be waived for indigent persons. A guest worker may also contact the Federal Ombudsman for assistance in filing a complaint.
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Q: If a worker has not been paid his or her full work hours, what is the first proper step to do?
A: The worker should immediately report it to the employer. If the employee is not satisfied with the results of his/her discussion with the employer, he or she may contact the Division of Labor. The law says that workers are entitled to be paid every two weeks. When the employees are paid, the employers are required to provide them a receipt which shows the total hours worked, total gross compensation, the amount and purpose of each deduction, total net compensation, date of payment and pay period covered.
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Q: Does a worker get paid for attending a meeting in the office?
A: Workers who are required to attend work-related meetings or to be on the job site must be paid for that time.
Submit questions on labor issues to Saipan Tribune via e-mail at editor@saipantribune.com, or by calling 235-6397, 235-2440, or 235-8747 and leaving a message at Ext. 133. You may also submit questions in person by writing it down and dropping it off at the Saipan Tribune’s office on the second floor of the Century Insurance Building on Beach Road, Garapan.
