In an administrative order issued on Feb. 27, 2009, the Department of Labor found Rifu liable to pay wages to 56 of its foreign workers amounting to $85,083.89.
Hearing Officer Jerry Cody said after the Rifu order was issued, the Division of Labor identified an additional eight foreign workers of Rifu who had been inadvertently omitted from the list submitted by the labor director.
He said the present amendment to the administrative order will address the claims of the eight workers.
In his amended administrative order dated May 14, Cody said the eight workers held permits that expired within the 30-day notice period between Feb. 6 to March 8, 2009 and they are entitled to receive wages from Dec. 6, 2008 until the expiration of their permits.
These workers are Xi Shi, Fei Yue Zhou, Ai Ping Chen, Xiao Yan Li, Yun Li Li, Qin Liu, Bing Bing Bai, and Zhi Hong Chen.
All of them will receive unpaid wages ranging from $842 to $1,166.
Rifu has acknowledged its obligation to pay its employees, Cody said.
He said Rifu is ordered to pay each worker within 20 days from the date of issuance of the order.
The payment, he added, should be made by cashier’s check or money order delivered to the hearing office of the Department of Labor.
If Rifu fails to pay in a timely manner, the applicable surety bond company will be responsible for paying the amount to the limits specified in each bond.
Failure to pay the bonds in bad faith may lead to sanctions assessed against the bonding company.
Cody said Rifu is also required to provide repatriation airline tickets for all workers who do not find transfer employers or who decide to repatriate to their country of origin.
