Pacific / Northern Marianas

Over 100 casino construction workers rally on CNMI's Saipan

12:03 pm on 29 January 2019

Over 100 construction workers have gathered outside the US Labor Office on the Northern Marianas island of Saipan to demand the payment of their salaries.

Construction workers rally outside the Department of Labor offices Photo: RNZ Pacific / Mark Rabago

The workers, who hail from the Philippines, said they were laid off work last week and their temporary visas are expiring on Wednesday, but the casino developer Imperial Pacific has yet to pay them or purchase tickets for them to fly home.

The workers also alleged that the Hong Kong-based developers hadn't given them food or water and were threatening to lock them out of their barracks.

In a statement Imperial Pacific said they were letting go of their H-2B visa workers following US Department of Homeland Security's decision to ban Filipino workers under the category.

However, the company has made assurances that work will continue on the construction of the resort.

The company also promised the aggrieved construction workers will be paid.