Myers, who represents 37 of the 56 former Rifu garment workers, also asked Labor to issue a supplemental order instructing the surety bond company to turn over the money on or before March 27.
In his letter dated March 6 to Hearing Officer Jerry Cody, Myers said his clients have given him the power of attorney to receive the specified amounts of money for the former garment workers.
“Not only is this easier to facilitate, but it is also less time consuming for all involved,” he said.
“There need only be one meeting to verify and reconcile the payments for the correct persons,” Myers said.
On Feb. 27, Labor issued an order directing the defunct Rifu Apparel to pay the wages of its 56 guest workers plus medical expenses of four of these employees, for a total amount of $85,083.89.
Rifu has to pay each of the 48 workers $1,684.80 for unpaid wages from Dec. 12, 2008, through March 8, 2009.
The 48 employees are owed unpaid wages from the date of their last paycheck on Dec. 6, 2008, until the end of the 30-day notice period, March 8, Labor stated.
During a status conference on Feb. 20, Labor issued an order that allowed the 56 employees to seek new employers after Rifu acknowledged its obligation to pay wages to its employees for 30 days following the official notice date of closure.
On Nov. 19, 2008, Rifu general manager Kidong Choi informed Labor they would have no production starting that week until the first week of March 2009 due to a delay in the confirmation of orders from buyers.
However, Choi also told Labor their workers could continue reporting to the factory as they would still be paid.
Myers said his clients, the 37 workers, are due to receive $47,521.89 from Rifu.
He requested Labor to make the check payable to “Attorney Robert H. Myers, Jr. Client Trust Account.”
Labor stated that an untimely payment by Rifu must be covered by the applicable surety bond company, or the company will be sanctioned for bad faith.
