Chinese construction company reportedly fails to pay workers in Saipan; Workers protest
Over 100 construction workers employed by Sino Great Wall International (CNMI) Co. LLC have staged a protest near their worksite in Garapan, Saipan claiming they have not been compensated for three pay periods. The Chinese employees are working on Imperial Pacific’s (IPI) Imperial Pacific Resort Hotel · Saipan on the island which is planned to open by Chinese New Year (Jan. 28) 2017.
According to a report in Marianas Variety, Imperial Pacific issued the following statement, while the Shenzhen Stock Exchange-listed Sino Great Wall (000018.SZ) or it’s subsidiary had not responded by press time there.
“The protest involves a dispute between Sino Great Wall International (CNMI) Co. LLC and its employees. The dispute does not involve IPI. IPI reassures the CNMI that its ongoing construction of its multi-million-dollar facility is not affected and will continue as scheduled. IPI is hopeful that the parties will resolve the dispute amicably and in a timely manner,” said an Imperial Pacific spokesperson.
Imperial Pacific/Best Sunshine International is currently in another contractor dispute with CNMI services provider, RNV Construction related to work on their Best Sunshine Live temporary casino in the T Galleria shopping center on Beach Road. Both sides are claiming breach of contract in that suit/countersuit. At present there is no indication of a dispute between IPI and Sino Great Wall.
It’s currently unclear how many workers Sino Great Wall has employed in Saipan, nor the reason the workers have not been paid. Worker contracts were not available in the public domain as of this report.