Group to Congress: Think of ABS-CBN workers in decision to renew franchise

MANILA, Philippines — The Congress should set aside politics and think of ABS-CBN’s employees in voting for the bill granting the network its fresh franchise, a labor group urged Thursday.

“Being vital in operating for the next 25 years, the legislative franchise of ABS-CBN will save the jobs and source of livelihood of more than 10,000 Filipino workers and their families,” Defend Job Philippines executive director Christian Yamzon said in a statement.

“Politics and personal ires of our politicians must be set aside for the sake of the looming lost of employment and livelihood of the Filipino working force. Our workers must not be hostaged and victimized of any political actions of the government,” Yamzon added.

This was after a bill renewing ABS-CBN’s franchise, which will expire on March 30, 2020, was refiled by Nueva Ecija 2nd District Rep. Micaela Violago at the House of Representatives.

READ: Bill renewing franchise of ABS-CBN refiled in House 

The labor group pointed out that ABS-CBN currently employs 6,730 regular employees, 900 non-regular workers and more than 3,325 talents, based on the network’s 2018 report to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and Philippine Stocks Exchange (PSE).

Defend Job Philippines also called on President Rodrigo Duterte, who has threatened to block the network’s franchise renewal, “to rethink its threat to veto the franchise of ABS-CBN and let the company smoothly operate for the sake of its workers.”

Duterte previously launched threats toward ABS-CBN, accusing the network of estafa for allegedly not providing him the airtime he had paid for during the campaign in the 2016 presidential elections.

READ: Duterte threatens to block franchise of ABS-CBN 

In light of this, Defend Job Philippines called on the ABS-CBN management “to stand up and resist the repression of the Duterte government against their company for the benefit of its constituents, and put on more pressure to pass the bill seeking fresh legislative franchise to their company.”

To show support to all the 10,000 employees of ABS-CBN, the labor group has launched the hashtag #SaveABSCBNworkers. /jpv