THIRTY-TWO alien workers yesterday filed a complaint with the Division of Labor following the sudden closure of their company, Western Equipment, Inc.
The employees, 22 from Saipan and 11 from Rota, petitioned for the issuance of temporary work authorizations and the immediate release of their unpaid wages from April 28, 2002.
According to the complainants, their employer, through comptroller Carlos Diaz, informed them verbally last Friday that the company would cease operation the following day, June 1.
“They need immediate assistance. Some of them have no more money since they have not been getting paid,” Philippine labor representative Araceli A. Maraya said in an interview.
She said she was informed that the Rota-based employees need food.
“So I already contacted the Filipino community on Rota to help them for now,” she said.
Maraya said she also sought assistance from Karidat for any help it could extend to the employees.
“We will constantly communicate with the people to be able to help them,” she said.
Maraya said some employees would need money to return to the Philippines. “Some want to get their repatriation tickets, while some want to transfer to other employers,” she said.
The employees, in a letter to acting Labor Director Dean Tenorio, said they want to be reimbursed for the refundable deposit or bond deducted from their previous wages.
According to Maraya, the Filipino workers remain housed in their barracks.
Western Equipment, owned by Wong Chu King, has already filed for bankruptcy.
