DAVAO CITY – Members of labor group Kilusang Mayo Uno gathered at Plaza Sta. Cruz in Manila Friday morning to hold a protest coinciding with the sixth month of the Kentex factory fire which claimed the lives of more than 74 workers.
Jerome Adonis, KMU secretary general, said the Valenzuela Prosecutor’s Office refuses to act on criminal cases filed by the workers and the government and the Ombudsman refuses to act on administrative charges filed by the workers.
“It’s been six months and there’s still no justice. This is most revulting, given the fact that more than 74 workers lost their lives in the fire,” said Adonis.
The group said that the Social Security System still has not filed cases against Kentex Manufacturing Corp. President Beato Ang and general manager Ong King Guan, as well as Cynthia Dimayuga, owner of CJC Manpower Services “for failing to remit workers’ contributions to the fund.”
“It appears that for the government, all that has to be done is to give financial compensation and assistance to the victim’s families and the survivors,” said Adonis.
“The death of many workers show that there were grave violations of safety standards. The capitalists of Kentex and top government officials should be held accountable for the deaths,” Adonis added.
In the protest, KMU also condemned Labor Department Order No. 18-A Series of 2011, which was signed by Pres. Noynoy Aquino on November 13, 2011 and sets the guidelines governing contractualization in the country.
“The workers of Kentex were also victims of contractualization, which was legalized by this DO. When the DO was signed, the government promised the regularization of contractuals. After four years, contractualization has only spread further,” Adonis said. (davaotoday.com)
