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Salas promises to pay his two ex-workers
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Posted on Feb 26 2009
Former congressman and Labor deputy secretary Andrew S. Salas has promised that he will pay his two former alien workers.
In an interview with Saipan Tribune, Salas said his company, Da Kine Inc. is now dissolved, but that he has always stated in every Labor hearing that, as president of the corporation, he will see to it that the two cooks, Sammy R. Fabito and Alredo M. Lumabi, get paid for their services.
Salas, however, defended William Mott, who was the vice president of Da Kine Inc., from any wrongdoing in the case. He said Mott came into the corporation after it was all set and done.
“So I think he should be exonerated from any wrongdoing because he came in after the fact,” Salas said.
Labor administrative hearing officer Jerry Cody has barred Da Kine Inc. and its officers, including Salas and Mott, from hiring alien workers after they failed to pay the wages of Fabito and Lumabi.
Cody said Salas and Mott may petition to lift the three-year bar once the settlement amounts, including liquidated damages, are fully paid.
Under the settlement, Da Kine is required to pay $1,633 to Lumabi and $3,309 to Fabito.
Salas told Saipan Tribune he is not going to appeal Cody’s order.
Salas also defended his younger brother, Tom, from any wrongdoing in the case.
“My brother Tom might have misrepresented himself, but he did not mean any malice. He was just very eager to help his older brother,” Salas said.
Cody said Tom provided false and misleading information during the course of the hearing.
Salas said he takes full responsibility in this case.
“Again I reiterate that no matter the corporation is dissolved, I will pay the monetary award on my own. The two victims here are those two cooks. And I will take care of them,” he said.
