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17 March
2006
Michael Jackson
To Pay Staff Back Wages
Michael
Jackson
has agreed to pay overdue wages to staff
at his Neverland ranch, hours before a
legal deadline ran out, state officials
say.
At least
30 workers are owed $306,000
(£174,000) in unpaid wages dating
back to December last year.
Michael
Jackson was threatened with a lawsuit if
he did not pay up.
However,
he will still be fined for allowing
workplace insurance at the California
ranch to lapse.
The
wages will be paid, said a statement from
the California Department of Industrial
Relations. "There is no need to take legal
action in this matter at this time," said
Robert Jones, acting California labour
commissioner.
Jackson,
who is overseas, was cleared of child
abuse charges in June 2005.
No staff
have been allowed to work on the 1,100
hectare (2,800 acre) Neverland estate in
California.
Gardeners
and maintenance staff for Jackson's
amusement park are employed as well as
domestic staff in the house.
Jackson
was fined $169,000 (£97,000) in
January 2006 for failing to renew
employer's insurance. He has 30 days to
appeal against that fine, which was issued
last week.
The
animals in the ranch's zoo are to be cared
for by the local authority, and have
included elephants, giraffes, snakes,
tigers and a crocodile.
Michael
Jackson's spokeswoman, Raymone Bain, said
the singer does not comment on matters
involving his finances because he
considers them to be private.
Michael
Jackson is currently living in Bahrain,
but has denied rumours published in a
British newspaper last weekend that he
plans to relocate to London.
"He's
not purchased a house in London, he's not
been scouting schools for his kids, he has
no intention to moving to London," said Ms
Bain. "This is totally erroneous and they
need to stop it."
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