The Churchpeople Workers’ Solidarity strongly appeals for solidarity for the workers of SLORD Development Corporation under the Samahan ng Manggagawa sa SLORD as they face illegal and unjust dismissal by the giant multi-national sardines company in Navotas Fish Port. Around 44 workers, mostly women were dismissed by SLORD Development Corporation in May 12, 2018.
We are saddened that for almost three decades of serving and contributing to the huge profits of the company, majority of the workers are contractual and their wages remain in starvation level from P350-370 per day and piece rate workers are paid even lower. While SLORD-Unipak paid millions of pesos to Kris Aquino for advertisement, workers receive nothing in terms of government mandated benefits such as SSS, Philhealth and Pag-ibig and even basic labor standards like 13th month pay, service incentive leave, holiday pay, rest day pay and maternity benefits for women workers. Inhumanely, workers are not allowed to have meal and snack break for 12-14 hours of work. SLORD Company is also not providing payslip and company ID to the workers.
We are alarmed that the dire working condition of workers in SLORD Development Corporation is also seriously impacting women workers who composed 85% of the total workforce in the factory. Women workers are unjustly dismissed when they are pregnant and not allowed to return to work even after their maternity. The company is also not giving mandatory paid maternity leaves for pregnant women workers. Children of workers are also severely affected especially after the massive dismissal as hunger strikes their families.
Worst, aside from lack of personal protective equipments, workers are also exposed daily to formalin- a toxic chemical used in preserving sardines but based on studies this chemical, even inhaled in small quantity can cause bronchitis and pneumonia and adversely can destroy vital organs for long exposure.
The bad working condition of workers is also confirmed by the labor inspections of the Department of Labor and Employment which discovered various violations to labor rights and labor standards. According to the workers, many of them were oriented by the management to lie about the status of their wages and benefits inside the company. Other workers were also forced by the company to went out the factory to avoid interviews by DOLE personnel.
Right after the labor inspection, SLORD management harassed and intimidated the workers. It implemented suspension orders without due process and forced workers to sign waivers that they are not part of any complaints at the Department of Labor and Employment. Workers are also accused of sabotaging the production and imposed penalties of P100-1000 for fabricated accusations.
Thus, we strongly stand with the workers under the Samahan ng Manggagawa sa SLORD-Unipak Sardines that they are regular employees in the company and therefore deserve their right to decent work and job security– a guarantee of social justice for the workers and their family. The law states that security of tenure means the employer shall not terminate the services of its workers except for just and authorized cause such as serious misconduct, habitual neglect, commission of a crime, illness of an employee or to prevent losses. However, none of these are committed by any of the illegally dismissed workers of SLORD. None of these are the true reasons of the company to dismiss the workers which are to bust the unity of workers who are asserting for their rights. Hence, we join the workers in calling to the Philippine Government and SLORD Management to:
- Reinstate all illegally dismissed workers of SLORD Development Corporation.
- Regularize all contractual workers of SLORD Development Corporation. Abolish all forms of contractualization in the country and implement national minimum wage.
- Strictly implement labor standards and government mandated benefits in SLORD-Unipak factory including payment of minimum wage, 13th month pay, holiday pay, rest day pay, service incentive leave, SSS, Philhealth etc.
- Respect the right to form and join unions and freedom of assembly.
Finally, we appeal to our brothers and sisters, fellow church people and workers and to all consumers of UNIPAK sardines to:
- Hold solidarity mission or visit to the workers’ camp of Samahan ng Manggagawa sa SLORD-Unipak in Navotas Fishport and offer food, medicine and other basic needs for their struggle.
- Send statements of solidarity or support to SLORD-Unipak workers.
- Post, share or repost statements or calls denouncing the unjust dismissal and supporting the demands of SLORD-Unipak workers in facebook and other social media.
- Campaign on the Boycott UniPak products.
Fr. Rudy Abao, MSC Sr. Lydia Lascano, ICM
Convener Convener
Churchpeople – Workers Solidarity Churchpeople – Workers Solidarity
