DAVAO CITY – A group of drivers from Mabuhay Group sought help from the City Council Tuesday, to complain about the management’s decision to terminate over a hundred of its employees since June 11.
June Doromal, who has been working for the company for more than 10 years, said they were not given sufficient notice before they were terminated.
“They terminated us without due process. We are only relying on our daily income as drivers. All of us are affected,” Doromal said.
He said that one of them submitted a letter to the management to request for a decrease in rental fee, return of rebate and other benefits.
“If they are mad because of the letter, they should have called us for a meeting,” he said.
He also said that the rental fee costs P1,125, but those who are “close” to the management enjoy a privilege of a P100 discount.
“What we are asking for is that it should be fair, P1,025 rental fee for everyone,” he said.
Doromal also said that they are being penalized for being absent.
“For one day absence, we have to pay a penalty of P50. See, we are sick yet we are penalized. If you will be absent for two days, you will have to pay another P100,” he added.
He said that on the third day of absence, the employee will be suspended for a week.
After the suspension, the employee will have to reapply and will lose the length of service rendered.
Doromal said that employees who have been in an accident are asked to sign a contract, however, the contract contains a “blank space” in which they are uncertain what it is for.
“If the driver has been in an accident, they will let you sign the blank space, without a specified amount,” he said.
“Drivers here in Davao don’t have a proper association. We don’t want this to happen to anyone. We want them (management) to respect us,” he said.
The case has been submitted to the National Labor Relations Commission (NLRC) and the first hearing will be on June 26. (davaotoday.com)
