Labor group raises alarm over layoffs

MANILA, Philippines — Labor group Defend Jobs Philippines on Sunday raised concern over the rising number of workers who have been laid off over a span of just two months.

“The Duterte government and the Department of Labor and Employment (Dole) must not limit themselves in just mere monitoring and mediating on the settlement and separation pay tasks for affected workers, but must craft policies and resolutions that will immediately stop the rising cases of joblessness nationwide,” the group’s spokesperson, Thadeus Ifurung, said in a statement.

He said 2,087 workers have already been terminated by Nokia (700 workers), Wells Fargo (700 workers), Honda (387 workers) and Philippine Airlines (300 workers).

The labor group feared that this figure will add up to the unemployed Filipino workforce which is now at 4.7 million Filipinos.

Defend the jobs

“The long list of companies who are letting go of their employees and workers must end now. The government must take up intensified efforts that will defend the jobs and livelihoods of its people,” said Ifurung.

“Amid threats attacking job security of Filipino workers, what we need right now is a strong assurance that the government is more than willing to safeguard our rights to decent and secured employment,” he added.

Labor Undersecretary Benjo Benavidez said companies were mandated by law to provide separation pay and unemployment insurance.

He said the Dole’s mandate was to ensure that affected workers are getting reasonable compensation.

“We go to employers so that they get better or enhanced separation packages,” said Benavidez.

7,000 workers face layoff

At least 182 displaced workers of Philippine Airlines (PAL) have voluntarily accepted separation pay, he said.

He added that they are also coordinating with the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority to provide training to displaced workers.

At least 7,000 workers are about to be laid off within the next six months due to COVID-19, according to the Trade Union Congress of the Philippines.

PAL earlier said it would let go of 300 employees under a “business restructuring” made more urgent by the COVID-19 outbreak that slowed world air travel.