USDOL orders CNMI staffing agency to pay back wages

SAIPAN, CNMI – After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD), Saint Trading Co. Inc. – a hotel staffing agency based in Saipan, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands – will pay $163,327 in back wages and liquidated damages to 73 employees for violating the minimum wage and overtime provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

Additionally, WHD assessed $40,150 in penalties because of the repeat nature of the violations.

WHD investigators found Saint Trading Co. Inc. failed to combine hours that some employees worked at multiple locations during the workweek when determining whether overtime was due. This practice resulted in violations when workers’ totals exceeded 40 hours per week, yet they were paid only straight time rates for the hours they worked at each separate location.

The employer also violated the minimum wage requirements when it failed to reimburse employees for job-required medical exams, and food-handler trainings and certifications. The employer also failed to record or pay employees for the time they spent securing these items.

Read more: https://pacificnewscenter.com/usdol-orders-cnmi-staffing-agency-to-pay-back-wages/