Danao mine workers decry lay-off

Hundreds of workers of a mining company in Danao City sought the help of the Department of Labor and Employment in Central Visayas (DOLE-7) after they were terminated from work.

About a hundred workers went to the DOLE-7 office in Gorordo Avenue in Cebu City last Thursday claiming they were terminated without receiving their benefits and separation pay.

They represented the 764 workers who were on forced leave and were later terminated by Seri Mining in barangay Kahumayan, Danao City. The company is engaged in coal mining.

The workers said they were placed on forced leave for six months without pay.

First batch

The first batch to go on forced leave was last June, and then two other batches followed last August and December.

Before they could return to work last month, the first batch of workers received their termination notice.

Reinero Bintoy, a 28-year-old miner who worked for the company for three years, said he was paid P368 a day.

“We don’t know what the reason is. We were just told that we can no longer go back to work. Some contractual workers are now working for them,” Bintoy said in Cebuano.

Another worker, Eddie Pasaje said he received a letter of termination last Feb. 10 and was later asked to attend a general meeting with the management.

Pasaje said he was expecting to be given separation pay but during the meeting, company representatatives announced that the workers’ 13th month pay would be released on installment basis.

He said they received 25 percent of their 13th month pay followed by another 30 percent. The remaining 45 percent has not yet been released.

Pasaje and several workers are seeking payment of back wages, a tax refund, and 13th month pay.

Other workers just want to return to work.

DOLE Regional Director Maria Gloria Tango said they sent a single entry officer to validate the complaint of the workers against the management.

Tango said within 30 days, the management and the workers will be called for a conference to explore an amicable settlement.

If the intervention fails, the hearing officer will look into the employer-employee relationship and conduct a complaint inspection.

The last resort would be to file a labor case with the office of the National Conciliation and Mediation Board in Central Visayas.