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in Taiwan Home PageThe visiting Vietnamese government officials have retained a local attorney to help recover money their government loaned to Daewoosa Samoa last year, according to high-placed sources.
Local attorney Paul Miller of the law firm of Marshall Ashley confirmed yesterday that they have been retained by Tourism Company 12.
Miller would not comment specifically on the details of obtaining their services nor the amount of money owed, but said "we are seriously looking at the nature of action against Daewoosa."
He said "prudent action against Daewoosa is the primary concern" along with the interest and the safety of its workers.
Sources, all of whom requested anonymity, told Samoa News that Daewoosa Samoa allegedly borrowed more than $40,000 from the Vietnamese government, through its wholly-owned subsidiary Tourism Company 12, to meet its payroll around October last year.
Tourism Company 12 recruits and contracts Vietnamese workers for Daewoosa Samoa. Officials of the company, led by Miss Mai, arrived early last week seeking the local government’s help in trying to resolve back-wage problems to the company’s Vietnamese workers.
According to the Vietnamese officials, Daewoosa Samoa owes $325,000 in back wages to its 250 Vietnamese workers.
The other issue the visiting officials hope to resolve at least by the time they go home is how to collect on Daewoosa’s loan debt to the Vietnamese government.
The visitors allegedly asked American Samoa Government (ASG) officials during their meeting last week to help them collect the debt but were told that this request was something that ASG cannot help them with and suggested the assistance of a private attorney.
The second matter for the visit is for other issues that deals with Daewoosa Samoa and the Vietnamese delegation have obtained services of a local attorney because the government cannot help them with it.
Sources said the second issue deals with Daewoosa not making payments to an outstanding loan. "The loan of more than $40,000 was made some time last year, around October, to help meet the company’s payroll obligations," said one source. "Daewoosa it seems, have not lived up to this obligation."
Daewoosa Samoa owner, Kil-Soo Lee could not be reached for a specific
comment on this matter.
The Daewoosa Samoa Vietnamese worker injured during last Tuesday’s melee at the company’s Tafuna compound is out of the hospital and wearing a patch on her left eye. Identified only as Miss Quyen, she accompanied two other Vietnamese workers and visiting Vietnamese translator Peter Le to a meeting yesterday morning with Commerce director Ali’imau "JR" Scanlan.
Through the translator, Miss Quyen told Samoa News she was doing fine but remains in pain due to the seriousness of the surgery. She showed marks on her hands and her back that were purportedly from last Tuesday’s fight at the garment factory.
Speaking on behalf of the Vietnamese workers, Le said Daewoosa Samoa has never taken full responsibility for getting its workforce paid in full.
He claims that some of the workers have been paid in cash with receipts.
Le also said that the Vietnamese workers were last paid for the period of August 7th to Oct. 5. From that period, some workers received only $151, some $42, and Ms. Quyen received $32.
He further claims that the workers would work on and off even though their contract states that regardless of whether the workers are on the production line or not they are still entitled to full pay.
The translator said it’s not the employees fault that there is no work or no materials. Miss Quyen declined to discuss what happened last Tuesday morning and, through Le, told Samoa News that her statements are with the police.
In the meantime, Le insisted on "looking at the facts" though he did not explain what "facts" he was referring to. Then he observed that "someone is backing" the Daewoosa owner "in not giving the workers their pay".
He said at least three times that "most of us Vietnamese are poor and we come here because of Daewoosa."
Le claims that the workers were promised free food but now they are been charged for it. "This is not about Vietnamese and Samoan workers? it’s about justice and for these workers to get paid," he added.
He also pointed out at least four times that Vietnamese are small people compared to Samoans who are big people.
He mentioned that Samoa News stories about the melee tells one side and then the other. He said that he does not want this story to indicate "he says, she says" but "the facts", noting that the Samoa News is going to check with Daewoosa and Daewoosa will deny everything.
Le then pointed out that "this is a Christian community, but where is God and justice?" When asked again about some specific details of what happened last Tuesday, the visiting translator said that the information is with the police and declined to translate a couple of questions put to Miss Quyen. He did say that 10 people, including Ms. Quyen, are witnesses to what occurred.
He once again reiterated his statement to "look at the facts",
adding to "stop harassing us". He would not say specifically as to who
is harassing "us".
I read your disturbing articles concerning the abuse of the worker on 11/29/00. Please advise on what can I do to help to bring justice to these people? Where is American Samoa?
Best Regards,
Hai-Ho Tran
htran@docent.com
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