Saying he was stripped of clothes, dignity, worker sues Japanese boss

DIGOS CITY—An employee of Japanese-owned ceramic tile maker Nakayama Technology Corp. here has filed a complaint against the company’s Japanese vice president for allegedly stripping him of his uniform and making him walk around the factory compound in his underwear.

Markrenis Rellon, 24, a resident of Padada, Davao del Sur and a contractual employee, said in a complaint filed at the barangay government of Cogon village here that around 4:30 p.m. on March 22, Akihiru Ushimaru, Nakayama’s executive vice president, asked him to report to his office.

He said with two of his Filipino team leaders, he went to Ushimaru’s office where he was berated for violating company policy on the proper wearing of uniforms—shirts should be tucked in.

Apparently as punishment, Rellon was asked to take off his uniform. He was then asked to write down 100 times this sentence: “The next time I will wear my proper uniform.”

Ushimaru allegedly threw Rellon’s uniform in the trash can and let the employee walk out of the office in his underwear.

“I was so embarrassed because I was only wearing my briefs,” Rellon told the Inquirer.

Ushimaru admitted to the Inquirer that he scolded Rellon for not wearing his uniform properly.

“He is an employee but he does not wear his uniform properly,” he said. He said it was not the first time that Rellon violated company rules on uniforms.

“Every time I meet him he is not wearing his uniform according to our rules here,” Ushimaru said.

He also admitted telling the employee to wear his uniform again. He said he  did not expect Rellon to be wearing nothing underneath his uniform other than his underwear.

“I did not expect that he has no other pants that time when I told him to return the uniform,” Ushimaru said.

Rellon said he was determined to pursue charges against Ushimaru.

A source said the absence of a workers’ union in the Japanese firm might be one reason Rellon had gone straight to the barangay to file the complaint.

Ushimaru said workers were not being barred from forming a union but its absence meant workers in his firm were happy with the way the company treats them.

“I think our employees have trusted us and they have peace of mind working here because we are not violating any laws,” said the Japanese. “We give them the exact benefits the laws provide and they even get additional benefits,” he said. Orlando B. Dinoy, Inqirer Mindanao