COVID-19 casualty: 4,400 jobs lost in Cebu export zone

CEBU CITY – At least 4,400 workers in the biggest export-oriented economic zone in the Visayas and Mindanao will lose their jobs next month amid the economic slowdown caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) in Central Visayas said workers in at least five companies at the Mactan Export Processing Zone (MEPZ) in Lapu-Lapu City were retrenched and will not be reporting for work until Oct. 4, 2020.

DOLE Central Visayas Director Salome Siaton said notices of retrenchment had already been issued to the workers by their companies.

She reminded companies of their obligations especially of requirements provided by Labor Advisory No. 17-A mandating companies to report retrenchments or job losses online through the DOLE’s Establishment Report System.

She added that companies were also required by the Labor Code to issue written notices to workers and the DOLE “at least one month from the intended date of the retrenchment.”

Siaton said 5,600 workers were supposed to be retrenched but after a series of consultations and reconsideration, the number went down to 4,400.

On Sept. 4, a team from the regional DOLE office went to the work sites of each establishment to witness the final payment of the separation pay of laid off workers.

Siaton said “our team saw to it” that all requirements for the retrenchment were followed.

There are no concrete plans yet, however, as to how the government will be able to help the retrenched MEPZ workers.

The regional DOLE office promised “intervention” programs for the displaced workers.

TSB