13 workers in sponsorship scheme uncovered by Labor

The Department of Labor has uncovered another sponsorship scheme involving 13 workers who each paid $1,000 to Elenita E. Camacho to file employment applications for nonexistent jobs.

Of the 13 workers, only 11 were granted employment transfer.

Labor hearing officer Herbert D. Soll issued two separate orders sanctioning Camacho $500 for each of the 13 violations, for a total of $6,500.

Camacho has also been permanently barred from hiring nonresident workers in the CNMI or from employment as a nonresident worker in the CNMI.

Soll said Camacho also used Weena P. Dulay, a U.S. citizen, to create a phantom business in her name in exchange for helping Dulay bring her mother to Saipan from the Philippines.

“Weena P. Dulay was aware of the fraud when she loaned her name to the scheme and she has been convicted of immigration fraud in the Superior Court. She was fined and served a jail term. No further sanction is appropriate in her case,” said Soll.

The labor hearing officer said Elena Espiritu, a notary public in the CNMI, affixed her seal to the employment documents without the presence of the parties.

“There is no evidence that she was par of a conspiracy with Camacho and Dulay and she has been reprimanded for her careless acts. No further sanctions are in order for Ms. Espiritu,” Soll added.

In his order, Soll gave Mary Ann T. Decena and Raquel E. Tadifa seven days to register with the Division of Employment Services and to find a suitable transfer employer who shall submit an employer intent form within 30 days of registration.

Nine other workers were also granted transfers, including Lina B. Cartagena, Amalia S. Gavino, Carol S. Flores, Winnie N. Mariano, Mary Joy Mirando, Rose P. Ordonez, Blesila B. Prevaldo, and Ann Janette Sumpay.

Nonresident workers Emma L. Banez and Rowena D. Java, however, were not granted job transfer “for their actions in promoting the false sponsorships that have authenticated their presences in the Commonwealth,” said Soll.

In an earlier sponsorship case, Labor sanctioned Leon H. Lizama for acting as an employer for 24 nonresidents. Five of the 24 workers cooperated with Labor to uncover the scheme which found Leon H. Lizama liable. Labor ordered him to pay $12,000 and was permanently barred from hiring foreign workers.