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Immigration files deportation cases against 44 alleged illegal workers
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Posted on May 14 2006
The Division of Immigration has filed deportation cases against 44 of 55 persons arrested for allegedly illegally working at Rifu Apparel Corp. in as Lito and R&B Corp. in Chalan Kanoa.
According to court papers filed by Immigration officer Erwin Flores, the 44, all Chinese, were each issued a non-resident worker’s entry permit by different employers.
Flores said most of the respondents have expired worker’s permit.
On April 27, 2006, members of the Attorney General’s Investigative Unit executed a search warrant at Rifu Apparel Corp. in As Lito and R&B Corp. in Chalan Kanoa.
The 44 respondents were found working for the two companies without an authorization from the Department of Labor, the officer alleged.
Prior to their arrest, Labor records show that the respondents worked with different employers as sewing machine operators, game room attendants, chefs, managers, washing machine operators, farmers, acupuncturists, houseworkers, and sewers.
Early this month, the Immigration also filed deportation cases against five alleged overstaying tourists who were also among those arrested during the raid at Rifu and R&B.
Immigration alleged that those arrested at Rifu were not paid on an hourly rate and were given prior instructions about an escape route in the event law enforcers approach the compound.
Concorde Garment Manufacturing Corp. recently filed a lawsuit against Rifu Apparel Corp. for allegedly inducing some Concorde employees to abandon their jobs and file frivolous complaints with the Department of Labor in order to work illegally at Rifu.
Concorde asked the Superior Court to restrain Rifu and its agents from illegally interfering with Concorde employees. It also demanded compensatory and punitive damages.
Rifu, in a press statement, denied that the management was involved with the illegal employment scheme. The company welcomed the Immigration and Labor’s investigation.
