DAVAO CITY – The union of the AGC Flat Glass Philippines, a Japanese-owned company, will push for the regularization of contractual employees on their collective bargaining agreement scheduled this month.
“Many of the contractuals have been working for the company for years and are performing tasks that are both necessary and desirable for the company’s business. They should be made regulars at the soonest possible time,” said Arnold dela Cruz, president of the AGC Flat Glass Phils. Inc. Labor Union.
The company has now hired 500-700 contractuals while the regular workforce is 280, said the labor group Kilusang Mayo Uno.
Nenita Gonzaga, KMU vice-chairperson for women’s affairs said that “contractualization victimizes women workers, whether as regulars who are the first to be replaced by contractuals or as contractual workers. It is a bane to workers in general and especially to women workers,” said Nenita Gonzaga, KMU vice-chairperson for women’s affairs.
KMU said the company is “trying to retrench the only female regular worker in the factory.”
Members of KMU staged a protest action outside the flat glass factory in Pasig City two days before the International Working Women’s Day.
