Leisure Clothing 'willing to settle the balance of wages owed to workers' - lawyer

The announcement came after the court heard yet another Vietnamese former employee say that he had not been paid for his work.
The employee in question, Nguem Van Giam, said that he had not been paid at all since he left the company.
 

Giam had only worked at the company for 20 days, before he was given the option to go back to Vietnam or work in a restaurant as his output at the factory was deemed not to reach the standard required.
 
The Court heard the now familiar story of being promised a €685 per month with the possibility of more depending on the hours worked, undergoing selection by a recruitment agency in Vietnam and being made to pay to submit his application.
 
During his time in Malta, he was summoned to a meeting with Bin Han where he was told that his work was not up to the required standard and then sent for a job at a restaurant.
 
He said that when he complained about the living conditions and food to Han Bin, he was told to pack his bags so he could  be sent back to Vietnam. He refused to pay Han Bin the money which he was owed together with the 20 million Dong deposit he had paid. The accused is alleged to have said that as the company was paying for his flight home, he had no reason to ask for more money.
 
Giam was testifying in the compilation of evidence against Leisure Clothing's managing director Bin Han, 46, from San Ġwann and marketing director Jia Liu, 31, from Birżebbuġa, who are charged with human trafficking and the exploitation of Chinese and Vietnamese workers, and are pleading not guilty.

Police Inspector Joseph Busuttil prosecuted with lawyer Edward Gatt also appearing for the accused. Lawyer Katrine Camilleri and Karl Briffa are appearing parte civile for the Vietnamese workers.