More being driven out of work in ‘Yolanda’ wake
TACLOBAN CITY—At least 186 workers have sought the help of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) in Eastern Visayas for the release of their benefits after their companies shut down their operations due to the devastation caused by Supertyphoon “Yolanda.”
Of the number, 102 were given their separation pay after the regional DOLE office intervened, said Exequiel Sarcauga, DOLE regional director for Eastern Visayas.
He said one of the firms, New Leyte Edible Oil Manufacturing Mills based in Tanauan town, Leyte province, gave a total of P8 million in benefits to 97 workers who were laid off.
Another employer, Hotel Alejandro in Tacloban City, gave P127,000 in separation pay to five workers.
At least 30 workers are still waiting for the release of their separation pay from Tacloban Oil Mill, an oil company based in Tolosa town, one of the areas badly hit by Yolanda.
No power, no business
Marlon Suyom, who acted as leader of the group of workers, said the oil mill closed down on Feb. 28 after all its existing stocks had been disposed of.
The lack of power supply in Tolosa forced the oil mill to close down since the continued use of a power generator was too costly for the company, he added.
If the shutdown was permanent, Suyom said the workers were appealing for all the benefits that are due them, like separation pay.
Suyom said the oil mill resumed operations a week after Yolanda hit Leyte on Nov. 8, 2013, but only to dispose of its existing inventory.
But he added that when the oil mill reopened, the management reduced the workers’ pay from P258 to P200 without prior notice to the workers.
On Feb. 28, the oil mill shut down its operations.
Relying on aid
Now that they are unemployed, Suyom said the workers didn’t know how to provide for the daily needs of their families.
“We are only relying on the relief packs being provided to us by the government. But if the distribution stops, where will we go?” Suyom said.
Sarcauga said that under the country’s labor laws, a company can temporarily shut down its operations without giving compensation to their workers within a six-month period.
But after six months, the company can choose to close down permanently and give the workers their benefits, such as separation pay, which should be equivalent to one month’s or at least half a month’s pay for every year of service, he added.
Appeal to businessmen
Still, Sarcauga said labor officials were appealing to company owners to be compassionate enough and give their workers assistance, especially following the destruction left behind by Yolanda.
Several business establishments in Leyte closed down after Yolanda but the regional DOLE office has not yet made any data available on how many of these establishments resumed their operations.
As of February, only 1,976 out of more than 13,400 business establishments in Tacloban City have reopened since Yolanda struck.
