151 OFWs who worked in Saipan sought for $0.5M back wages

MANILA, Philippines -- The 151 Filipinos employed by a construction firm in Saipan can now claim their back wages amounting to $500,000, the United States Department of Labor has announced.

This after an agreement was reached with Sablan Construction Co. of Saipan, which failed to pay overtime wages in accordance with the federal Fair Labor Standards Act, the labor department said.

The Filipinos -- who worked in the US commonwealth from March 19, 1999 to December 7, 2001 -- have since returned to the Philippines.

Anna Archila, of the US labor department's Wage and Hour Division, told INQUIRER.net in an email that the Filipino workers can contact her at phone number +1 415 625 7697, at fax number +1 415 625 7699, or at email: archila.anna@dol.gov.

"Please have them give me a call or e-mail me,” said Archila. “Then I can mail out some forms for them to sign and return."

In a ruling, the US District Court for the Northern Mariana Islands said Sablan violated the federal Fair Labor Standards Act, which limits the work hours per week to 40, sets the overtime pay for hours worked in excess of the limit to one and half times the regular rate, and requires companies to keep and make available records of employees, wages, hours worked, and other conditions for three years.

The court also ordered the construction firm to issue the check to the US Department of Labor, which is the authorized agency to locate the workers and distribute the back wages either to the person or his/her estate.

The US labor department was unable to distribute the back pay as many of the workers left Saipan and it did not have a complete listing of current addresses for all eligible Sablan Construction employees.

It is now working with representatives from the Philippine government to locate and notify workers eligible for the back wage distribution. - Veronica Uy, INQUIRER.net, July 17, 2008