IPI workers allegedly tampered with departure dates

Despite efforts to repatriate Imperial Pacific International (CNMI) LLC’s remaining Turkish workers, it was learned that these workers allegedly tampered with their flight schedules and pushed back their departure date.

In his report to the U.S. District Court for the NMI, lawyer Michael Dotts, who represents IPI, said that more difficulties with repatriations arose this week when the 11 Turkish workers who were scheduled to leave yesterday changed their departure dates last Sunday.

“On Feb. 15, 2021, 11 employees were supposed to depart for Turkey. IPI paid for and gave them their tickets, paid for COVID-19 testing in Guam, and paid for a two-night stay in a hotel in Guam. Sunday afternoon it was discovered that the employees had changed their tickets and moved the departure dates to August. IPI is working with the attorney representing the Turkish employees to resolve the matter,” he said.

He did not cite a reason why the workers tampered with their plane tickets and moved their departure dates.

In addition, Dotts noted that the Turkish workers who were supposed to leave refused to sign acknowledging receipt of the $250. “The workers who were scheduled to return to Turkey early Monday morning requested money to cover food and other travel expenses. IPI had them sign a general release in receipt for $250 each in cash. IPI has agreed that the employees did not release any claims in exchange for the cash,” he said.

In regards to housing, Dotts reported that IPI is ready to close down Vestcor Village housing and will also close down Lau Lau housing on Feb.23.

“IPI employee housing still has power. IPI is ready to close Vestcor. The two holdover employees who had been refusing to leave are moving out today. IPI should be able to close its large housing known as Lau Lau on or about Feb. 23, as the final residents in that housing will depart the CNMI on Feb. 22,” he said.

Dotts explained that closing down employee housing will reduce the burden on IPI in paying for utilities but they will continue to pay for security at these facilities.

IPI is also looking at reducing its kitchen and cleaning staff as workers are repatriated.

“Food services have continued without interruption for all H-2B workers. As workers are repatriated, the financial burden of feeding them will go down and IPI will also soon be able to reduce its kitchen and cleaning staff,” Dotts said.

As of last week, 29 IPI employees have been repatriated while over 128 remain on island.

The largest group of IPI workers that need to be repatriated, according to Dotts, are the Mongolian workers, with over 100 still on island. Dotts said they remain here as available flights are still pending.

There are still 11 Turkish IPI workers who remain but were set to depart yesterday, Feb. 15. There are also 11 Taiwanese workers that remain on island but they have already applied for change of status.

A total of six Malaysian workers refuse to leave because they demand their paid time off and to be paid their 75% guarantee, while two Italian workers said they will not leave due to a pending lawsuit against IPI.