Attorney Timothy Bellas made the assurance after Gov. Benigno R. Fitial asked him to use leftover funds from the proceeds of the multi-million dollar settlement agreement for the benefit of displaced garment workers instead of donating the money to charity.
Fitial told Bellas the displaced workers need the trust fund’s help more than the charitable organizations.
The trust fund has opted not to compensate former garment workers in cases where their former employers and bonding companies have gone out of business.
“A distribution from the Garment Workers Trust Fund, perhaps in an equal amount, to each worker with proven claims that remain unpaid seems the best way to carry out the original intent of the litigation that created the fund,” Fitial told Bellas.
Bellas, in his response, said the trustees are scheduled to hold a meeting next month and the case of the over 700 displaced garment workers seeking assistance will be discussed.
He said Fitial’s request will be a priority when they meet next month.
“The trustees have and continue to entertain and approve requests from garment workers to repatriate them to their point of hire. Repatriation of stranded guest workers has always been one of the stated intents of the settlement agreement in the class action lawsuit and a mandate to the former Garment Oversight Board,” the former judge said.
“However, in an effort to fulfill our role as the trustees, we have asked that the CNMI Labor Department verify that there are no funds available either from the employer, the bonding company or the CNMI account that is supposed to be earmarked for repatriation purposes,” he added.
According to Bellas, a certification is necessary to justify the humanitarian considerations related-expenses such as the repatriation of the displaced workers.
“If as a result of our meeting in September, the trustees decide to reverse their prior decision on this matter, the approval of the U.S. District Court will also have to be obtained prior to making the expenditure of the [trust fund] for the purpose you have requested,” said Bellas.
The island’s remaining garment factories closed down last March. The factories used to employ more than 15,000 workers, mostly from China and the Philippines.
