NutriAsia, Inc. has accused striking workers of allegedly misrepresenting themselves as employees of the condiments giant.
In its presentation at the Senate hearing on labor issues arising from the regularization of workers on Thursday, NutriAsia claimed that the protesters were allegedly employees of its contractor, B-Mirk Enterprises Corporation.
“Picketing B-Mirk employees misrepresented themselves as NutriAsia employees and organized a union, misnaming their union under NutriAsia,” the company said.
It noted that B-Mirk is accredited by the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) as a legitimate contractor.
“For two long months, about 200 striking BMirk employees, inflicted economic losses and anxiety on the lives of more than 1,000 fellow workers from Bulacan,” NutriAsia claimed.
NutriAsia recently made headlines following the violent dispersal of striking workers at their factory in Marilao, Bulacan.
NutriAsia clarified that, in support of BMirk, it has “patiently and relentlessly tried to pursue a peaceful resolution to the dispute by attending more than a dozen mediation meetings organized by DOLE at the regional level.”
NutriAsia also reiterated that the company does not engage in any illegitimate contacting activity such as labor-only contracting.
However, early in July, DOLE ordered various companies, including NutriAsia, to regularize its contracted workers.
According to the DOLE, its inspectors found that the company participates in labor-only contracting arrangement with AsiaPro Multi-Purpose Cooperative (AMPC). /vvp