ABS-CBN shutdown doesn’t have ‘immediate impact’ on workers’ employment – DOLE chief

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) has downplayed fears that the shutdown of media giant ABS-CBN would have “immediate” adverse effects to the company’s 11,000 workers.

“The issuance of the cease and desist order does not have an immediate impact on the employment of its employees,” Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III said in a statement on Wednesday.

“It does not automatically extinguish the corporate existence of any company. Legal remedies are available,” he added.

This comes a day after the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) issued a cease and desist order against ABS-CBN after its legislative franchise expired on Monday, May 4.

Hours after the order was handed down, ABS-CBN complied with the order and signed off the air—the first time since 1972 when dictator Ferdinand Marcos declared martial law.

Bello said that the network’s workers will continue to be employed, and they remain to be entitled to all labor standards.

“We trust that this issue will be resolved based on applicable laws, rules, and regulations,” he said.

“Paramount is the protection of the rights and the promotion of the welfare of all workers, particularly those of ABS-CBN,” the DOLE chief added.

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