BARTENDER Chun Jee “Eric” Wong staged a protest outside the office of the U.S. Department of Labor on Thanksgiving.
Wong, a Malaysian national, said he worked for Cheers Karaoke Bar owner Shun Lin Zeng on a CNMI-Only Transitional Worker or CW permit starting June 2019.
He has filed a complaint against Zeng and her companies Ping Shun Corporation and Plumeria International Corp. Ltd., alleging that he was not paid for overtime work from June 2019 to December 2020.
Wong said that he filed his complaint only on Sept. 8, 2021 because during each of the past months, his employer kept promising to pay him.
It was only when he got tired of hearing her “broken promises” that he filed his complaint with the CNMI Department of Labor, which dismissed it because of the six-month statute of limitations.
Moreover his immigration status as a CW is not protected by CNMI preferential law, according to CNMI Labor Hearing Officer Jacqueline Nicolas.
Wong is hoping that the federal government would look into his complaint.
“This is not about money. All I seek is justice. I just would like the U.S. Labor to acknowledge my complaint,” he added.
He said he does not intend to stay on island. As soon as he gets an official confirmation or an acknowledgement receipt from U.S. Labor he would return to Malaysia.
“I just can’t accept that some employers keep cheating people. They’ve cheated many people already in this island, both locals and foreign workers. To me, it is unacceptable. We cannot allow them to keep cheating us like that,” Wong said.
“I seek justice. I hope the U.S. Labor hears my case,” he said as he reiterated that all he wants is an acknowledgement from U.S. Labor before he leaves the island and moves on with his life.
Chun Jee Wong stands near a placard which reads “I Seek Justice” as he stages a protest Thursday at Marina Heights I Building which houses the office of the U.S. Department of Labor.
