Dear friends,
The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information about the allegedly illegal and unjust dismissal of more than 100 production workers in the Mamplasan, Binan, Laguna Plant. The information from Defend Job Philippines and Nagkakaisang Manggagawa sa Print Town (United Workers in Print Town) also documents the pitiable livening and working conditions forced upon the workers. The AHRC notes with grave concern that these retrenchments are not a one off incident but are integral to a systemic attack on workers’ rights movement in the country by casualising the hitherto organised labour force.
The AHRC strongly denounces such moves that are forcing a huge number of workers and their families into poverty and urges the government of Philippines to take immediate action to open a dialogue with the industry, workers and all other stakeholders for a resolution that reinstates workers’ rights while helping the country develop and grow.
CASE NARRATIVE:
The commercial division of Lex Media has dismissed more than 90 workers from work belonging to belonging to the Nagkakaisang Manggagawa sa Print Town (United Workers in Print Town) without prior notice, or explanation. These dismals follow a previous spate of dismissals in the company and its affiliates where in 2005, more than 80 workers affiliated to the FEP or News division were dismissed. Similarly, 10 workers from Lex Media and maintenance department were fired. Thus the dismissal of 90 workers in October 2013 is not a one off incident but rather points to the long standing trend of illegal and unjust retrenchment of workers.
It might be helpful here to point out that the Print Town Workers are employed in the largest privately owned newspaper and commercial printer in the Philippines. The company is owned by the same Print Town Group of companies belonging to the INQUIRER Group of Companies owned by Marixi Rufino Prieto, who often finds pride of place in Forbe’s rich list with his net worth of $30 million.
The Group is composed of the FEP Printing Corporation that prints the Philippine Daily Inquirer; Alliance Media Printing Corporation Inc. that prints the Asian Wall Street Journal and Lexmedia Digital Corporation which invests in various activities like digital free press, printing books, magazines, catalogs, directories, calendars, posters, annual reports, packaging cartons and labels. Some of the recognized brands owned by the company are Biz News, People Asia, Look Magazine, HNM, WSJ, Tahanan books, Red Magazine, Sundance, FX, Shop Magazine, AVON Brochure, Liahona, Laguna Libre, Adobo, Ever Bilena, Human Nature, Animo, Splash, Mighty, SIM and many more.
Some of these workers have worked with the company for as many as 10 to 12 years. The services provided by the illegally dismissed workers have been in strategic and major departments for a long time. However, because they are placed under various co operatives such as the Print Town Partners Multipurpose Cooperative (PPMC), People Resource Multipurpose Cooperative (PRMC), Helping Hands and many more, their pay remains at a minimum level of P337 per day as against those who are paid under a piece rate basis and earn nothing more than P125 and enjoy no other benefits or social security. The work undertaken by them is however, no different from the workers directly hired by the company, and often extends into long inhuman working conditions and deplorable conditions of work. Due to the contractualization, there is no job security or any other benefits given to workers who are placed in strategic positions which demand tiring working conditions.
The arbitrary lay off of the workers is illegal and violates their job security as well as law of the land which has often upheld that the 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. Needless is to say that none of the dismissed workers were involved in any of such misconduct.
The dismissal of these workers who work for the Mamplasan, Binan, Laguna Plant indicates the growing trend towards contractualization of the workforce as the main problem. The recent spate of dismissals seems to be triggered by the victory of the case filed by the workers at the National Labor Relations Commission in 201?. The verdict, in ordering reinstatement with full wages to the illegally dismissed workers, must be seen as a big threat to the interests of corporate lobby and its greed for profits. It has also given a jolt to their contractualization scheme that helps them make casual workers do the same work as regular workers but on much lower, often subsistence wages. With the organised workers bearing the brunt of such layoffs it also shows company’s fear of the collective strength and actions of the workers. This is why it wants to terminate those who are slowly raising their consciousness, voicing out, organizing and rising up against the inhumane and exploitative policy of the company and crush any dissent.
SUGGESTED ACTION:
Please write to the authorities mentioned below demanding immediate intervention for ensuring the reinstatement of the workers with full wages. You may also demand that the government keep a vigil on such actions which threaten the livelihood and food security of the vast workforce of the country.
To support this case, please click here: SEND APPEAL LETTER
SAMPLE LETTER
Dear ..................,
PHILIPPINES: Reinstate all illegally dismissed workers of print town immediately.
Name of the victims: Workers belonging to Nagkakaisang Manggagawa sa Print Town (United Workers in Print Town).
Alleged Perpetrators: Print Town Group of companies
Date and Time of the incident- ongoing since October 2013
Place of incident: Laguna, Philippines
I am writing this to bring to your kind attention the dismissal of 90 workers from Print Town Group of Companies that has violated their job security. As you might be aware of the commercial division of Lex Media has dismissed more than 90 workers from work belonging to belonging to Nagkakaisang Manggagawa sa Print Town (United Workers in Print Town) without any prior notice, or explanations offered. These dismals follow a previous spate of dismissals in the company and its affiliates where in 2005, more than 80 workers affiliated to the FEP or News division were dismissed. Similarly, 10 workers from Lex Media and maintenance department were fired. Thus the dismissal of 90 workers in October 2013 is not a one off incident but rather points to the long standing trend of illegal and unjust retrenchment of workers.
It might be helpful here to point out that the Print Town Workers are employed in the largest privately owned newspaper and commercial printer in the Philippines. The company is a owned by the same Print Town Group of companies belonging to the INQUIRER Group of Companies owned by Marixi Rufino Prieto, who often finds pride of place in Forbe’s rich list with his net worth of $30 million.
The Group is composed of FEP Printing Corporation that prints the Philippine Daily Inquirer; Alliance Media Printing Corporation Inc. that prints the Asian Wall Street Journal and Lexmedia Digital Corporation which invests in various activities like digital free press, printing books, magazines, catalogs, directories, calendars, posters, annual reports, packaging cartons and labels. Some of the recognized brands owned by the company are Biz News, People Asia, Look Magazine, HNM, WSJ, Tahanan books, Red Magazine, Sundance, FX, Shop Magazine, AVON Brochure, Liahona, Laguna Libre, Adobo, Ever Bilena, Human Nature, Animo, Splash, Mighty, SIM and many more.
Some of these workers have worked with the company for as many as 10 to 12 years. The services provided by the illegally dismissed workers have been in strategic and major departments for a long time. However, because they are placed under various co operatives such as the Print Town Partners Multipurpose Cooperative (PPMC), People Resource Multipurpose Cooperative (PRMC), Helping Hands and many more, their pay remains at a minimum level of P337 a day as against those who are paid under piece rate basis and earn nothing more than P125 and enjoy no other benefits or social security. The work undertaken by them is however no different from the workers directly hired by the company, and often extends into long inhuman working conditions and deplorable conditions of work. Due to the contractualization, there is no job security or any other benefits given to workers who are placed in strategic positions which demand tiring working conditions.
The arbitrary lay off of the workers is illegal and violates their job security as well as law of the land which has often upheld that the security of the 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. Needless is to say that none of the dismissed workers were involved in any of such misconduct.
The dismissal of these workers who work for the Mamplasan, Binan, Laguna Plant indicates the growing trend towards contractualization of workforce as the main problem. The recent spate of dismissals seems to be triggered by the victory of the case filed by the workers at the National Labor Relations Commission in 201. The verdict, in ordering reinstatement with full wages to the illegally dismissed workers, must be seen as a big threat to the interests of corporate lobby and its greed for profits. It has also given a jolt to their contractualization scheme that helps them make casual workers do the same work as regular workers but on much lower, often subsistence wages. With the organised workers bearing the brunt of such layoffs it also shows company’s fear of the collective strength and actions of the workers. This is why it wants to terminate those who are slowly raising their consciousness, voicing out, organizing and rising up against the inhumane and exploitative policy of the company and crush any dissent.
I, therefore, urge you to ensure that,
1. The workers of the Print Town are immediately reinstated with full benefits including back wages,
2. Ensure the security of tenure of all workers,
3. All dismissed workers are provided with substantial unemployment assistance to all dismissed workers.
4. The working and living conditions of the workers are improved and progressively brought at par with the international standards,
4. The government of the Philippines will take all necessary steps for ensuring that the regime of retrenchments and casualisation of workforce is topped immediately and all workers are brought under social security net.
Sincerely,
.................
PLEASE SEND YOUR LETTERS TO:
1. Mr. Benigno Aquino III
President
Republic of the Philippines
Malacanang Palace
JP Laurel Street, San Miguel
Manila 1005
PHILIPPINES
Fax: +63 2 736 1010
Tel: +63 2 735 6201 / 564 1451 to 80
2. Ms. Loretta Ann Rosales
Commission on Human Rights
SAAC Bldg., Commonwealth Avenue
U.P. Complex, Diliman
Quezon City
PHILIPPINES
Fax: +63 2 929 0102
E-mail: chair.rosales.chr@gmail.com
3. Corazon Juliano-Soliman
Secretary, Department of Social, Welfare and Development
Constitution Hills, Batasan Pambansa Complex,
Quezon City
PHILIPPINES
Tel/Fax: +63 (2) 931-81-91
4. Hon. Rosalinda Baldoz
Secretary
Department of Labor and Employment
DOLE Building,
Muralla Wing cor. General Luna St., Intramuros,
Manila, 1002, Philippines
Fax: +63 336-8182
Email: secrdb@dole.gov.ph
5. Marixie Prieto Print Town and Inquirer Management
Louie R. Prieto Press Building,
3817 Mascardo
St. Makati City, Philippines.
Telephone: +02 8974386.
Email: feedback@inquirer.com.ph
Thank you
Hunger Alerts Programme
Right to Food Programme (foodjustice@ahrc.asia)
Asian Human Rights Commission (ua@ahrc.asia)
