By Haidee V. Eugenio
Variety Assistant Editor

THE Department of Labor has issued another list of names, this time of 111 alien workers it says have pending labor cases but some of those cases listed have been resolved since last year.
Labor earlier released a list of 1,001 names of nonresidents it said did not have legal immigration status allowing employment in the CNMI, but over 200 names have so far been identified as erroneously included on the “no hire” list.
Today is the last day for these aliens to report to Labor — with the necessary documentation — if they believe that their immigration status allows employment in the CNMI.
On the second list issued by Labor on Friday, the two oldest cases dating back to 1996 separately filed by Marticio G. Pagdato and Ramon Z. Lopez against their former employers Filipina A. Sablan and Marianas Sunrise Enterprises dba Remington, were closed in March 2006 or 10 years after they were filed.
The closures of these two oldest cases resulted from Labor’s priority in addressing the backlog of labor complaints since last year.
In a public notice, Labor encouraged the 111 alien workers with pending labor cases and whose names appeared on the list to appear at the department’s hearing office on Feb. 22 or 23, depending on the date specified.
“Your cases will be heard at that time or continued to a certain date,” said Labor, adding that alien workers should bring any documentation necessary to the resolution of their claims or defenses to claims against them.
Alien workers whose cases have already been resolved through settlement or those who are claimants and wish to withdraw their claims are encouraged to call Labor investigator Jeffrey Camacho at 236-0960.
“If your claims have been settled or withdrawn, you do not need to appear for the hearings on the schedule,” said Labor.
The alien workers on the second list have labor cases pending between 1996 and 2002, as the department tries to get rid of “old” cases. They include workers from China, the Philippines, Bangladesh, among other countries.
The list does not include cases filed after 2003. Labor Hearing Office administrator Rose Ada-Hocog earlier said that there were 524 labor cases filed in 2003; 812 in 2004; 420 in 2005; and 358 in 2006. The drop in the number of cases filed, however, does not necessarily mean there were fewer workers affected by alleged labor violations.