DAVAO CITY—Gearing for legal action, banana plantation workers from Compostela Valley Province, Davao Del Norte and Davao City stormed the office of the Social Security System (SSS) to condemn the agency’s inaction on complaints against Sumifru and Marsman’s failure to remit the workers’ SSS contributions.
Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU)-Southern Mindanao noted that since 2000, Osmeña Banana Growers-Sumifru have failed to remit the SSS contributions of almost 175 banana plantation workers in packing plant 98, Osmeña, Compostela Valley. Marsman in Sto.Tomas, Davao Del Norte, was likewise discovered to have not remitted SSS contributions of its 900 workers since 2007.
“The workers have already filed their complaints before the offices of SSS Tagum and Davao only to know that up to now, there are no appropriate actions taken to hold Sumifru and Marsman accountable of their anomalies,” said Romualdo Basilio, KMU chairperson and Anakpawis Partylist Coordinator.
“The failure of SSS to solve this complaint proves that there is conspiracy between the SSS and large corporations to pocket contributions that should be returned to workers in the form of benefits. Aside from slowly killing workers with meager wages and unfair Labor Department policies, such as labor flexibilization, defrauding workers of their contribution shows how incompetent the Arroyo regime is,” Basilio added.
“The government has not been taking our concerns seriously and we are left with no option but to intensify our militant organization to protest against this grave injustice,” Cerela Anding, chairperson of Nagkahiusang Mamuuo sa Osmena (Namaos), said.
For reference:
Romualdo Basilio
KMU-SMR Chairperson
Anakpawis Coordinator
Mobile number 0905-7430-659
IMPORTANT NOTICE: INBOX is an archive of press releases, statements, announcements, letters to the editors, and manifestos sent to Davao Today for publication. Please email your materials to davaotoday@gmail.com. Davao Today is not responsible for the content of these materials. The opinion expessed in these items does not reflect those of Davao Today and its staff. Please refer to our terms of use/disclaimer.
