Chief assures Labor will address workers’ woes
So far, no complaints have been filed by any worker against Sino Great Wall International Engineering, the company working to build the multimillion-dollar Imperial Pacific Resort in Garapan.
“I am not aware of any filed complaints,” said Labor Secretary Edith Deleon Guerrero said.
The workers last week held a peaceful protest near the construction site and demanded that Sino Great Wall pay their wages.
“[DoL’s] Enforcement Division is addressing the matter since onset regarding the workers concerns of unpaid wages. Without a question [DoL] will pursue not just this matter but any and all employment related matters for any employee(s) and with any employer doing business in the CNMI,” said Deleon Guerrero.
She said protecting employee rights is their No. 1 priority. “It is important that employee rights are protected which includes timely and full payment of wages.”
Deleon Guerrero also reminded employers that DoL considers workers’ rights a serious issue. “All businesses in the CNMI are expected and shall adhere to employment laws. [DoL] considers employer responsibility and the protection of employee rights a serious matter.”
IPI: Issue between sub-contractor, workers
IPI downplayed last Friday’s protest, saying that they are not involved in the issue and it is between two parties not connected with the Hong Kong-based conglomerate. Details were limited and Sino Great Wall has not issued any statement as of press time.
IPI clarified in a statement that they are not involved in the dispute. “IPI states that the protest involves a dispute between Sino Great Wall Int’l Engr. (CNMI) Co. LLC and its employees.”
“The dispute does not involve IPI. IPI reassures the CNMI that its ongoing construction of its multimillion-dollar facility is not affected and will continue as scheduled. IPI is hopeful that the parties will resolve the dispute amicably and in a timely manner.”
Unfortunate incident
Gov. Ralph DLG Torres said unfair labor practices have no place in the CNMI. “It is unfortunate that we have had to experience this on our islands. This is something that the government or anyone on the island should not tolerate.”
IPI said they had already paid Sino Great Wall.
Torres advised IPI to make sure that even workers of companies they hired as subcontractors get paid. “At the end of the day [IPI] is still responsible for the situation, because that’s where the permit is.”
He is confident that IPI’s Garapan hotel would be finished on time. “I’m confident [IPI] would finish their project.”
This interesting, only NOW that DOL is getting involved with the non payment of these ‘Chinese’ workers, after all of these decades, even in the past when it was part of immigration.
How many workers over the years filed grievances and even gotten positive court action against employers to get paid , how many of the required bonds that were “shown” to the local Govt. for getting approval of the Guest Worker employer contract were all ‘bogus companies’ and only a piece of paper “sold” by prominent people and also the elected past for the sole purpose of obtaining workers contracts.
How many past workers have “never” been paid, up until now, years later? In the past not one of the elected or Govt agencies would go after a company to ensure the workers were ultimately paid. (Even the Feds)
It would seem that DOL (and others) have been instructed by their Chinese handlers to get involved to take this attention away from BS.
Years ago on more than one occasion, on more than one company we had to pay our subcontractor employees directly due to their employer not doing so after we paid them, also as they were not getting the rate and overtime as required by law at that time. We as the main contractor had to submit paperwork certifying all payroll.
This was done as we were the main contractor and ultimately we were responsible for the payroll as well as the quality of the work.
(many of these contractor are still around today.
BTW why have Dynasty employees never been paid and nothing about DOL getting involved or a Bonding Company.
Aren’t any of these company required to be bonded anymore, both on work quality and also on payroll?
We expect DOL to get these worker’s paid. A prime contractor or an owner, owes subcontractors, there is no way to avoid debt. If a contractor fails to pay his subcontractors, that business or “person” to whom he is contracted must still make payment to the subcontractors and their employees. One cannot simply avoid paying workers by saying that it is the problem or “my contractor”. Surely 100 workers are not telling lies. There is still the big question, how many locals are working on this project? Why so many workers from offshore? What about job training and mentoring? A sustainable economy is not built on serial contract worker dependence. And, DOL, please get to the bottom of the OSHA complaints, the injured workers, amputees, broken backs. You and other agencies can tighten up enforcement by performing inspections and not kowtowing to the “owners” or their “representatives”. Go down there with a police officer if somebody tells you you cannot go on the property. Or are you afraid!