Kaymara
03-19-2006, 08:03 AM
King of Pop to pay Neverland workers
Jackson to pay more than $306,000 in back wages, plus fines
Wednesday, March 15, 2006; Posted: 10:10 p.m. EST (03:10 GMT)
(CNN) -- The state set a deadline, but Michael Jackson plans to beat it.
Jackson's representatives will pay more than $306,000 in back wages to Neverland Ranch employees Thursday after the California Department of Industrial Relations threatened a lawsuit to retrieve the money if the pop star didn't pay by 5 p.m., department spokesman Dean Fryer said.
"The department will allow Jackson to pay his employees directly, and we will verify that the proper payments were made," Fryer said.
However, Neverland employees will be prohibited from returning to work because Jackson has yet to renew his worker's compensation insurance, Fryer said.
"The bottom line is they cannot employ workers until they have it," Fryer said.
Animal caretakers are the only employees still on the job, because a local veterinarian agreed to pay them so Jackson's collection of exotic animals could continue receiving care.
Jackson has not lived at Neverland in several months. He moved to Bahrain, a small nation on the Persian Gulf, after being acquitted on child molestation charges in June.
He is slated to return to the United States on March 23 to give a deposition in a civil case in New York City.
Though state officials say the 46 employees are owed more than $306,000, they can't be sure of the exact amount until the payroll process is complete. Once the amount is determined, the Department of Industrial Relations will calculate Jackson's fine for violating state labor laws.
"We know the penalty will be at least $100,000," Fryer said.
Jackson has been fined at least $69,000 for letting his workers' compensation insurance lapse. The pop star's representatives told the state agency they are in the process of securing coverage.
Jackson to pay more than $306,000 in back wages, plus fines
Wednesday, March 15, 2006; Posted: 10:10 p.m. EST (03:10 GMT)
(CNN) -- The state set a deadline, but Michael Jackson plans to beat it.
Jackson's representatives will pay more than $306,000 in back wages to Neverland Ranch employees Thursday after the California Department of Industrial Relations threatened a lawsuit to retrieve the money if the pop star didn't pay by 5 p.m., department spokesman Dean Fryer said.
"The department will allow Jackson to pay his employees directly, and we will verify that the proper payments were made," Fryer said.
However, Neverland employees will be prohibited from returning to work because Jackson has yet to renew his worker's compensation insurance, Fryer said.
"The bottom line is they cannot employ workers until they have it," Fryer said.
Animal caretakers are the only employees still on the job, because a local veterinarian agreed to pay them so Jackson's collection of exotic animals could continue receiving care.
Jackson has not lived at Neverland in several months. He moved to Bahrain, a small nation on the Persian Gulf, after being acquitted on child molestation charges in June.
He is slated to return to the United States on March 23 to give a deposition in a civil case in New York City.
Though state officials say the 46 employees are owed more than $306,000, they can't be sure of the exact amount until the payroll process is complete. Once the amount is determined, the Department of Industrial Relations will calculate Jackson's fine for violating state labor laws.
"We know the penalty will be at least $100,000," Fryer said.
Jackson has been fined at least $69,000 for letting his workers' compensation insurance lapse. The pop star's representatives told the state agency they are in the process of securing coverage.