Casino workers laid off

Imperial Pacific International (CNMI) LLC has laid off around 50 of its personnel in various departments, one day after the casino resumed operations.

Those who were laid off worked at the table gaming, food and beverage, engineering, and slots departments.

This is the second time that IPI has let go of some employees, a month after terminating the contracts of at least 80 construction workers. There are rumors that this won’t be the last yet.

Ma. Socorro Rivera, a table games dealer, said that she received a phone call from their Human Resources Department asking her to come to the office.

“I was told to bring my passport, company ID, and badge. I already had a hunch that this is not good news. I haven’t done anything wrong and you won’t get called to go to the office if it’s not serious. From that call, I already knew that I’m getting laid off,” Rivera told Saipan Tribune.

The notice of layoff was signed by IPI’s HR vice president Magdalena Attao. The letter was given to affected employees on Nov. 19, the same day they were told that they were being laid off.

“The purpose of the letter is to notify you that you are being laid off from your employment with [IPI] effective Nov. 19, 2018, due to the unforeseeable business circumstances we are experiencing due to Super Typhoon Yutu. Please be assured that this action in no way reflects dissatisfaction with your job performance,” the letter states.

Terminated employees, according to the letter, will be getting seven days payment in “lieu of notice as outlined in your offer letter” aside from other outstanding accrued paid time off.

Rivera said that employees that were laid off either received a phone call or an email from their office asking for them to report to HR. She added that she met with two HR staff and they asked her to sign the notice of layoff.

“I didn’t sign the notice but I signed the final pay and informed them that I’m discontinuing my TakeCare Insurance,” said Rivera.

Rivera added that the way the company treated them after informing them they were laid off was uncalled for. “You can see and hear some of my coworkers crying. And then you will be escorted to get your things in your locker and out of the premises [as if] we’re criminals?”

The casino stopped operations for almost two days, starting last Friday, and re-opened at 6pm on Nov. 18.
Email messages to company representatives were unanswered as of press time.