Mariano K. Pangelinan was also required to pay $9,000, based on Labor’s administrative order issued on Jan. 21.
Labor at the same time granted relief transfer to nine employees whom Pangelinan hired but were not given full-time work.
In his order, Labor Hearing Officer Jerry Cody said Pangelinan had a suspicious pattern of filing incomplete permit applications.
He said the employer was suspected of collecting illegal processing fees from the workers and filing “sponsorship” applications to provide workers with an excuse to remain in the CNMI with valid immigration status.
“Permit applications for a number of respondent-employees in this case were denied based on multiple deficiencies that were never corrected by Pangelinan,” the order stated.
Those granted relief transfer were Virginia L. Lapuz, Nida L. Esma, Nicolas A. Acuna, Sarah G. Gascon, Mary G. Capurihan, Liwayway O. Garcia, Aurelia F. Costales, Romeo A. Macaso, and Nora S. Tagbuyawan.
The relief transfer will be given if the employees were able to obtain a transitional conditional “umbrella” permit.
Labor dismissed the case “without prejudice” against the other respondent, Soledad C. Pangelinan.
Cody said the Division of Labor director may decide, at his discretion, to bring a separate agency case against Soledad C. Pangelinan based on specific charges.
Cody said it was determined that Mr. Pangelinan lacked the ability or intention to employ many employees on a full-time basis.
“Employer provided either extremely sporadic work or no work at all, to six of his employees,” the order stated.
Cody said Mr. Pangelinan misled his employees — who signed renewal contracts, paid required permit fees to the employer and continued their employment — into believing that their permit applications were on file.
Mr. Pangelinan gave his employees government receipts and labor application vouchers that appeared to be genuine but were fabricated, Cody said.
“Some workers discovered the problem yet trusted that the employer would resolve the matter as he promised,” he said.
In the course of the agency investigation, Cody said, all employees stated that they will not file any wage claims against their employer.
“Employees only asked that they be allowed to transfer to other employers,” he added.
