L&T Group of Companies, the largest employer of manufacturers in Saipan, will pay $1.7 million as part of a series of discrimination suits brought by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). The discrimination was both blatant and rampant. According to the EEOC, L&T routinely discriminated based on the country of origin of its workers, among other factors.

Filipino workers were not allowed to use the company cafeteria for their lunches. Non-Chinese employees were not allowed access to food, lodging or medical care. The company said this separation, although blatantly illegal, “promoted a harmonious working environment.”

The EEOC also alleged in its lawsuit that pregnant employees were laid off and replaced with other, non-pregnant workers.

After the discriminated employees complained and reported the violations to the EEOC, they were all told that they were being laid off because of low sales. All the laid off employees were replaced by Chinese workers.

“This major settlement shows that the EEOC will vigorously protect the rights of all workers, within every reach of our jurisdiction, to be free of discrimination,” said EEOC Acting Chairman Stuart J. Ishimaru. “The resolutions of these egregious cases bring a measure of justice to the many workers who were retaliated against and otherwise victimized by discriminatory employment practices because of their national origin, age, or pregnancy.”

The $1.7 million payment will resolve four separate discrimination lawsuits brought against L&T and its affiliates by the EEOC. The affiliates are Tan Holdings Corporation; Tan Holdings Overseas, Inc.; Concorde Garment Manufacturing Corp.; Micro Pacific, Inc.; Seasonal Inc.; and L&T International Corp.

The company will also have to implement a series of injunctive relief measures, such as hiring an equal opportunity consultant to train all managers and employees and agreeing to being monitored by the EEOC, among other remedies.