MANILA, Philippines -- Workers of Triumph International (Philippines) Inc. who are about to be laid off will not accept their separation pay or any other offers from the company unless they are first presented proof that its impending closure is legal, an officer of the workers? union said Wednesday.

Officials of the Bagong Pagkakaisa ng mga Manggagawa sa Triumph International have been holding dialogues with management to stop the company from closing its two factories effective on August 28.

A total of 1,606 workers employed at the factories will lose their jobs as a result, along with 57 employees at the company?s head office in Makati.

On the other hand, 128 people working in the firm?s sales and marketing divisions will not be affected.

?Until now, they still could not show us any documents about the closure. They just keep on telling us about the severance pay [we are going to get],? Isabelita dela Cruz, the president of the workers? union, said.

She added that management was offering at least P300,000 for workers who have rendered 20 years of service.

Dela Cruz said that she and the other union officials have told management that they would not discuss separation benefits unless they are provided with documents regarding the firm?s closure.

?The closure was dubious because the filing of the closure [papers] with the labor department happened only on Tuesday, three days before the halt in operations,? she said, adding that under the Labor Code, workers should be given 30 days notice before the intended closure date.

The factories were closed on Saturday right after management declared a holiday.

Dela Cruz pointed out that most of the workers about to be displaced are 45 years old and above and would thus find it very hard to find new jobs.

She said that what she and the others need right now is ?job security.?