Hanjin security tight amid workers’ protest

SUBIC, Zambales — A group of soldiers was sent to secure the premises of a Korean shipyard in this town as some 100 remaining workers of the debt-ridden company continued their protest action on Monday.

Workers of Hanjin Heavy Industries and Construction Philippines said they were barred by the management from reporting for duty after they refused to sign the company’s voluntary retrenchment program.

Maintaining order

Efren Vinluan, president of Samahan ng mga Manggagawa ng Hanjin, said six soldiers were deployed to the shipyard on Monday as they marked their fourth day of protest to call on the management to allow them to return to work.

“The soldiers said they were tasked to prevent any disruption in the company’s operation,” Vinluan told the Inquirer.

At least eight policemen had also been sent to the area to maintain peace and order.

“We don’t mind the presence of the soldiers and the cops. We just want the management to talk to us and assure us that we still have our jobs,” Vinluan said.

On Jan. 8, Hanjin filed for corporate rehabilitation at the Olongapo City Regional Trial Court to protect it from its creditors.

It owes $400 million in outstanding loans from the country’s banks, on top of another $900 million borrowed from lenders in South Korea.

Since December last year, the company had laid off more than 7,000 workers and retained only 300 personnel, according to the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority.

Lawyer Rosario Bernaldo, the court-appointed Hanjin receiver, said a top official of Hanjin had already approached her about the picketing workers.

“The [Hanjin] management has already promised that they will allow the workers to report for duty until the end of this month,” Bernaldo said in a text message.

“We refused to voluntarily resign because our labor code states that Hanjin, as the principal company, had a solidarity liability when its subcontractors stopped operations,” Vinluan said.

Closure

Only 200 workers who voluntarily resigned were allowed to enter the shipyard’s premises.

At least 15 of Hanjin’s subcontracting firms had issued notices of closure to its workers last month, citing “financial losses and lack of orders for shipbuilding.”

The shutdown takes effect on March 31, the notices said.

The workers were assured that they would receive their salary for March and separation pay. —Joanna Rose Aglibot