DOLE-7 monitoring MEPZ’s massive layoff

CEBU, Philippines —  The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE)-7 is closely monitoring the 4,400 retrenched workers at the Mactan Export Processing Zone, as the agency is also looking at conducting livelihood seminars and orientations among interested affected workers.

“As part of our joint intervention with the LGU through the PESO, we will be referring the affected workers to them for profiling. Profiled workers will be referred to companies based in the city that have positions or jobs available. For workers who want to gain training experience, they will be referred to the training center of Lapulapu City through the TESDA, where another coordination meeting has also been started,” DOLE-7 Regional Director Salome Siaton said in a statement.

Last September 4, MEPZ locators Global Wear Manufacturing, Metro Wear, Inc., Feeder Apparel Corporation, Vertex One Apparel Philippines, Inc. and Mactan Apparels, Inc. had ceased the services of 4,400 employees.  The retrenchment will take effect on October 4.

“Companies involved opted to pay the entire one-month salary of the workers from 4 September to 4 October 2020,” Siaton said.

Last September 4, a DOLE team headed by Lovely Aissa B. Velayo-Agliam, Mediator-Arbiter, together with Emmanuel Y. Ferrer, head of the DOLE Tri-City Field Office, went to the work sites of each establishment to witness the final payment of the separation pay of affected workers.

“Our team saw to it that the Notices of Termination, Computation of Separation Pay, the Certificates of Employment, and the release of Waivers and Quitclaims as well as the photocopies of checks and Employee’s Exit Checklist and Clearance were thoroughly checked and looked into,” the regional chief said.

Siaton added that there were supposed to be 5,600 workers that will be retrenched but their agency intervened.  For couples affected, only one was allowed to be dismissed from work.

She added that coordination meetings were conducted together with partner agencies, especially with the local government unit of Lapu-Lapu City and their team met with Mayor Ahong Chan and the city’s Public Employment Service Office discussing the plans to take for possible interventions for the displaced workers.

Siaton also reminded these companies of their obligations, especially on the requirements provided for by Labor Advisory No. 17-A regarding the online reporting that every establishment has to make using the DOLE’s online Establishment Report System. — GAN (FREEMAN)