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Hotline for labor complaints
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Posted on Mar 17 2006
Attorney Dede Hill, legal counsel for the Labor Department, answers today’s questions.
Q: Does Labor have a hotline number for anonymous tipsters against employers who violate labor laws? If there is none, what should the anonymous tipster do to relay his or her complaint?
A: The department does not have a hotline. But it accepts anonymous tips. Labor investigates these tips. Anonymous tipsters should call Labor at 236-0900 and say they want to talk to investigators at the Labor Enforcement Section.
Q: Does the government or Labor provide a free lawyer to complaining workers?
A: No. A lot of complaining workers represent themselves. The administrative hearing officers are very understanding. Labor investigators are assigned to handle cases. The Labor director will decide if there is a merit to the complaint being investigated by the investigators. Hearing officers can either deny or affirm the director’s determination. Labor is not the employees’ counsel, but the department’s interest with the workers might be the same.
Q: If a guest worker has a labor complaint, does it means that he or she cannot be deported as long as he or she does not violate criminal laws?
A: It’s a case-by-case situation. If a worker files a labor complaint and his or her permit expires, the worker has a legal right to remain in the Commonwealth as long as there is a pending labor hearing; there is a memorandum to seek work; or the worker has a temporary work authorization. But there would be instances that the worker would be deported such as violation of immigration laws.
Submit questions on labor issues to Saipan Tribune via e-mail at editor@saipantribune.com, or by calling 235-6397, 235-2440, or 235-8747 and leaving a message at Ext. 133. You may also submit questions in person by writing it down and dropping it off at the Saipan Tribune’s office on the second floor of the Century Insurance Building on Beach Road, Garapan.
