Makabayan bloc solons slam DOLE decision on NutriAsia strike

Progressive lawmakers from the House Makabayan bloc condemned Friday the decision of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Region III declaring the striking workers from the Nagkakaisang Manggagawa ng NutriAsia Inc. (NMAI) as agency employees of B-Mirk Enterprises Corporation, instead of the condiments giant NutriAsia.

Bayan Muna Rep. Carlos Isagani Zarate, ACT Teachers Reps. Antonio Tinio and France Castro, Gabriela Reps. Emmi de Jesus and Arlene Brosas, Anakpawis Rep. Ariel Casilao and Kabataan Rep. Sarah Elago said the latest DOLE regional office decision “only shows its clear anti-worker bias.”

“It chose to be blind, mute and deaf on the many sins of NutriAsia, which for a long time denied its workers decent salaries, continually abused its workers’ rights for better working condition, practiced arbitrary termination, unjustly made deductions from the worker’s meager salaries and instigated the recent violent dispersal of worker’s strike that led to the serious wounding of five workers and illegal arrest of twenty NMAI members and supporters last June 14,” they added.

The DOLE III decision, the lawmakers said, also affirmed the Duterte administration’s “deceptive proposed job contractual scheme now being practiced by NutraiAsia.”

NutriAsia had already denied practicing “endo” or end of contract in their Marilao, Bulacan plant.

“The workers deployed by our Provider/Toller in the Marilao plant are its regular employees. As such, they are not terminated every five months and contracted again for another five months. They are assured of and enjoy security of tenure as well as all benefits mandated by law, as would any regular employee of any employer does,” it said in a previous statement.

The NutriAsia management also said B-Mirk Group, its service provider or toll packer, is “engaged in a legitimate and independent business.”

“It is substantially capitalized to ensure that its regular employees are paid fully and on time as required by law,” it said.

The Makabayan solons said the NMAI workers were just asking for those terminated to be reinstated and for them to be made regular workers to cope with the unabated skyrocketing of basic goods and services due to Duterte’s Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (Train) Law.

NutriAsia, they said, employed more than 1,000 workers but only 10 percent were regularly employed. Its management also required workers to work up to 12 hours without enough overtime pay, they solons added.

According to NMAI, NutriAsia also failed to provide adequate ventilation which resulted to untoward incidents as hot substances dropped on workers skin due to congestion.

“Despite the serious violations of NutriAsia against its workers, the DOLE III in its decision justified the abuses and passed the buck to their agency. This is a highly unacceptable and deplorable decision,” said the lawmakers.

The lawmakers has likewise called on Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III not to let the decision be implemented, and order its reversal.

“We are calling on DOLE Sec. Silvestre ‘Bebot’ Bello III not to let this decision be implemented. He should immediately order the reversal of the DOLE III ruling. NutriAsia and B-Mirk committed serious violations of the labor law and both should be held accountable. The Makabayan bloc also calls on workers and other sectors to continue their support to NutriAsia workers,” the solons said.   /muf