Jackson will pay his Neverland employees' back wages
Averting a potential state lawsuit, Michael Jackson has agreed to pay hundreds of thousands of dollars in back wages owed to dozens of employees at his Neverland ranch, according to a statement from the California Department of Industrial Relations.
Jackson had been given a 5pm Tuesday deadline – later extended to yesterday - to pay up or face a lawsuit.
“There is no need to take legal action in this matter at this time,” said Robert Jones, acting California labour commissioner. The state ordered all work at the 2,600-acre Santa Barbara County ranch to stop last week because the mandatory coverage for work-related injuries had lapsed.
The department had received complaints from at least 30 workers who said they had not been paid since December 19.
Jackson also was told he would have to pay about $100,000 (€82,896) in penalties.
Jackson’s spokeswoman, Raymone Bain, said she “never doubted it would be resolved".
Jackson himself does not discuss financial matters because he considers them private, Bain said.
