But Woo Young Lee, the president of Eastern Hope Corp., which manages Rakuen and Keeraku Restaurants., said it was the employees who suggested the reduction of working hours. He said the employees also signed his letter agreeing to the reduction of working hours from 40 to 35.
He said those who filed the complaint agreed with the cost-cutting measures they had to implement due to the economic slowdown and high power rates.
Lee said the Department of Labor also allowed them to reduce working hours.
He said he had not received anything from the court, yet the media already knew about the lawsuit filed against him.
The complaint was filed by Ricardo Salem, Ronel Codog, Leticia Manuel, Ariel Payoc, Alejandro del Gorro, Jennifer Capati, Nelia San Pascual, Merlinda Gaboya, Virginia Villasan, Reynaldo Hermogenes, Aung Ko Ko Than, Chad Almojuelo, Tarun Mondal, Zhao Chun Chiang and Jin Shun Yu.
The plaintiffs, assisted by their counsel, the O’Connor Berman Dotts and Banes law firm, filed five causes of action against Eastern Hope Corp.
The plaintiffs are asking the U.S. District Court for the NMI to order the defendant to award them unpaid wages at an amount to be determined at trial, additional amount as liquidated damages, general and consequential damages, punitive damages, restitution for unjust enrichment, costs, attorney’s fees and other relief as the court deems.
In their complaint, the plaintiffs said they have been working for the defendant since July 1, 2008 under a signed contract for 40 working hours each week. The plaintiffs said they only worked an average of 30 to 35 hours a week, and were not paid for a substantial amount of work they have done.
