By Haidee V. Eugenio
Variety Assistant Editor

THE Department of Labor fined an employer $100 for his failure to correct a deficiency in an application to hire a farmer in 2006, and an additional $150 for the late filing of the 2007 renewal.
Labor Hearing Officer Barry Hirshbein gave employer Tarciso K. Olopai until April 30, 2007 to pay the total sanction of $250.
The hearing officer said Olopai must pay the fine before Labor processes the 2007 application to renew the contract of nonresident Li, Xiang.
Labor denied the 2006 application based on Olopai’s failure to provide a farmer declaration.
The deficiency was corrected after the denial was issued.
“This application, had it been approved, would have expired in January 2007. No renewal application was filed for this year. This order is intended to resolve the 2006 denial and the issue of late fees for the 2007 renewal,” said Hirshbein in a March 29 administrative order.
Hirshbein said prior to making payment, Olopai must obtain a voucher from the Labor Collections Unit of the Administrative Hearing Office.