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IPI to close employee housing
Imperial Pacific International (CNMI) LLC is looking at shutting down its employee housing just weeks after reinstating power and water.
In IPI’s fourth status report in relation to the U.S. Department of Labor’s suit, IPI counsel Michael Dotts told U.S. District Court for the NMI Chief Judge Ramona Manglona that, with many employees now being repatriated, IPI will close its employee housing.
Employee housing now has running water and power; food also continues to be served.
Dotts said IPI has begun repatriation and, as of last Tuesday, 29 IPI employees have left while over 128 remain on island.
“This was less than expected but repatriation is moving forward. When employees are repatriated, IPI must pay for their COVID-19 testing, and pay to provide hotel accommodations in Guam. This expense works out to about $450 per person.
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 are reportedly set to depart on 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 refused 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.
In addition, IPI also reported about current payroll distribution, stating that a problem arose with the distribution of payroll No. 2.
“When the checks were received from Guam, it was discovered they were dated 2020 instead of 2021. Bank of Guam has agreed to honor the checks despite the typographical error and payroll No. 2 [was] distributed Tuesday,” Dotts said.
The next payroll, payroll No. 4, is due on Feb. 12 and Dotts assured the court that this payroll, and future payrolls, will be paid on time.
