Labor: Differences in findings hinder progress

Discrepancies in the results of investigations done by both local and federal bodies is one of reasons the case involving the recruitment of tourists as workers for the casino project appears to be glacial.

CNMI Labor investigator Jeff Camacho said the compiling of information obtained from the workers are being “cross-checked” with findings of U.S. DOL, which makes the process tedious and time consuming.

“I am not sure whether it is our findings or [USDOL’s] findings that are not compatible, but we are making sure that everything is being complied with for both CNMI and federal Labor,” he said.

“Right now, we are just waiting for any settlement from the respective lawyers of the companies [involved]—if they agree with our facts and findings,” said Camacho, adding that for now, discussions have been ongoing.

The companies involved in the illegal recruitment of workers are Suzhou Gold Mantis Construction Decoration, MCC International, CMC Macau, and Beilida Overseas (CNMI) Ltd.

Camacho told Saipan Tribune that one company wants to send their workers home. Though he did not specify which company, Camacho said rumors were going around that the offer was rejected because the workers—who are employed by different companies—wished for all of them to go home at the same time.

In response to that rumor, Camacho clarified that there are lawyers representing each company, and each company has been discussing with federal Labor what steps to take.

One of many demands of the workers is that they be paid at the rate of the CNMI minimum wage, which is $6.55 per hour.

According to Camacho, local Labor has been going through the process of calculating the time each worker has worked, but is struggling because “[the workers] themselves can’t really prove to us that they really worked for the company.”

Camacho added that the lawyers for the companies are pointing out that some of the workers did not work for them.

Some 40 workers have been protesting since early 2017, claiming that they have yet to be paid for their work. Some claim to have paid their recruiters as much as $10,000. The workers are calling for the payment of their wages, the reimbursement of their recruitment fee, and for their companies to shoulder their tickets home.