Makabayan solons seek inquiry into ‘illegal dismissal’ of 140 Laguna workers

Makabayan Representatives Arlene Brosas of Gabriela (left ) and France Castro of ACT Teachers and former Rep. Carlos Isagani Zarate of Bayan Muna are seen in this file photo taken in February 2023 in front of the Supreme Court. INQUIRER file photo / RICHARD A. REYES

MANILA, Philippines — The Makabayan bloc has filed a House resolution seeking an investigation into the “cost-cutting and restructuring” by Nestle Philippines that caused the “illegal lockout and termination” of 140 employees of its Canlubang site in Laguna.

“Dapat imbestigahan ito kagyat ng DOLE [Department of Labor and Employment] at ng Konggreso dahil hindi lang 140 workers ang magugutom, kasama na ang kanilang pamilya,” said ACT Teachers Rep. France Castro— one of the bill’s three authors— in a Thursday statement.

(This must be immediately investigated by DOLE and by Congress because it is not only the 140 that will starve, their families will too.)

Filed on Wednesday, House Resolution 1067 asserts that a “clear violation” of the collective bargaining agreement (CBA) between Wyeth-Nestle and the Wyeth Philippines Progressive Workers Union (WPPWU) was committed when the company allegedly barred its workers from entering the Canlubang plant and then laid off 140 employees on May 18.

“There has been a clear violation of the collective bargaining agreement between Wyeth-Nestle and Wyeth Philippines Progressive Workers Union. In a workplace with a sole and exclusive bargaining agent, the employer must consult the workers regarding issues within the company that will affect them,” reads the resolution, which Castro, Gabriela Rep. Arlene Brosas, and Kabataan Rep. Raoul Manuel have filed.

In a statement previously issued to INQUIRER.net, however, Wyeth Nutrition said that “no lock-out was implemented” by its management.

The resolution also maintains that the mass termination of workers was a “cost-saving and cost-competitiveness strategy” executed “in order to maintain and increase profits,” citing that Nestle Philippines accumulated gross sales of P164.4 billion in 2022 and “was one of the most profitable companies in the country despite lockdowns and the pandemic.”

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“Hindi katanggap-tanggap ang cost cutting at the expense of workers. Samantalang kumita naman ang Wyeth ng bilyun-bilyon dahil sa productivity ng mga manggagawa,” added Castro.

(Cost-cutting at the expense of workers is unacceptable. Meanwhile, Wyeth earned billions because of their workers’ productivity.)

The 140 workers— of which 125 were rank-and-file employees, 14 were supervisors, and one was a manager— represent almost a quarter of the plant’s total workforce of 614. The laid-off workers also form 45% of the WPPWU, with 10 of them being union officers.

Wyeth has stated that its organizational restructuring included “redundancies among positions across different functions and levels,” thus resulting in lay-offs.

“We recognize the effects of this development on our affected employees and their families. We have exerted all efforts to minimize the impact on our employees and ensure fairness, while we pursue the sustainability of the factory,” it said on May 19, a day after the alleged lockout.

Wyeth also assured that affected workers will receive separation packages “superior to what the law requires” and that support programs have been established to assist in their transition out of the company.

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