PARALYZED OPERATIONS. 75 Workers of the Nakashin Davao International, Inc. who were “illegally dismissed” last April 8 paralyzed the operation of the company since Wednesday, May 25. (Earl O. Condeza/davaotoday.com)
DAVAO CITY – Workers in a Japanese frozen food manufacturing and export company here halted its operation by blocking its gates on Wednesday, May 25, protesting the alleged illegal dismissal of employees.
The barricade was started at 5:00 am at the entrance of Nakashin Davao International, Inc. in Malagamot, Panacan, 20 kilometers north of the city.
The protesting workers had put up camps outside the company premises for 34 days before they decided to barricade the entrance on Wednesday.
LISTENING. Workers who are still employed, patiently stay outside the company and listen to the protesters who are airing their demands and explaining to the new workers their rights and welfare. (Earl O. Condeza/davaotoday.com)
Other workers who reported for work were unable to enter the compound and waited for the protest to clear the entrance.
Protesters are asking for consideration and support from other workers coming in for them to continue the protest and demand for them to be reinstated.
Bryan Jaranilla, vice president of the Nagkahiusang Mamumuo sa Nakashin (United Workers of Nakashin or Namana), said they already gained support from their fellow workers inside.
“They have sympathy for us, but they are afraid to voice it out for the fear of losing their job,” he said.
Rhesan Liwag, who is working for a year in the company said that “it is their right, they are already working here for a long time.”
Liwag agreed with the protesters, saying that their protest is for all, “if they will win this, everybody can benefit.”
“It was not right for them to be dismissed, they asked for a time before signing the quitclaims. We are still new to the company, that is why we signed the waiver,” she said.
Liwag has been working for 14 hours daily in the company coming in by 6:00 am and leaving work by 8:00 pm. She is earning P550 a day including the P40+ for overtime pay from being paid of P239 for six months.
Estella Mae Partoza, who has been working in the company for eight years, thanked the workers who showed support to them saying that “even though they are new, they supported our calls.”
Partoza hoped that the new workers will not think of them of being bad. “We need their support,” she said.
“We do not want to continue the abuse to these employers,” she said.
Seventy-five workers of the company were dismissed last April 8 after they refused to sign a quit-claim form, which stated that those who will sign has manifested to withdraw the case they filed against the company in the Department of Labor and Employment.
Partoza said that they did this for the company management to listen to them.
“We were illegally dismissed,” she said.
“We should not be afraid because this is our right,” she added.
Partoza, together with 75 workers who were dismissed last month, earlier filed a case against the company for “not giving them the right benefits and not recognizing their regular status.”
Jaranilla said they decided to totally paralyze the company for its management continue to be insensitive.
SETTING UP. At 5:00 am, Wednesday (May 25) protesting workers set up their camp at the gates of Nakashin Davao International, Inc in Malagamot Panacan paralyzing its operations. (Earl O. Condeza/davaotoday.com)
“We express our protest outside, but there was no feedback from the management. They remain blind and deaf to our demands,” Jaranilla said.
Meanwhile, representatives from the Labor Department and the National Conciliation and Mediation Board arrived at the protest area to settle down their concerns, yet no negotiation took place.
“No negotiation was facilitated by the NCMB and the DOLE to address the demands of the workers to be reinstated and to make them as regular workers,” Carlo Olalo, spokesperson of the Kilusang Mayo Uno Southern Mindanao Region said.
Olalo said that the two agencies told them that their demands still needs to be forwarded to the legal council of the management of the Nakashin Davao and told to standby for the negotiation.
But, “until now (Thursday), no negotiation happened,” Olalo said.
Olalo said they will continue their protest until their demands are met. (davaotoday.com)
