Gatchalian suspends Valenzuela factory

For paying worker in coins

MANILA, Philippines — A worker’s complaint of receiving over P1,000 in coins as payment from a factory in Valenzuela City exposed a slew of other allegations involving unjust labor practices by the company.

Mayor Rex Gatchalian met yesterday with NexGreen Enterprise owner Jasper Cheng So and factory worker Russel Mañoza, who received a salary of P1,056 in five and 10-centavo coins.

Gatchalian suspended the factory’s business permit for 15 days for violating the Labor Code and the city’s ordinances and regulations for the non-coverage of workers’ benefits.

So apologized to Mañoza over an incident last Friday when he shouted at the worker for complaining to the barangay about the labor dispute.

According to Mañoza, So told him to return the next day for his last pay. What Mañoza got was a pile of coins as his salary.

So claimed that it was a mistake as the coins were intended for a church offering in Malabon.

Gatchalian did not buy So’s excuse, saying he believed that the payment in coins was intentional to spite Mañoza for his complaints.

Based on records at city hall’s Worker’s Affairs Office, Mañoza has P55,614.93 worth of unpaid separation pay due to his alleged illegal dismissal, unpaid salary as well as overtime and holiday pay during the period from April to August 2019 and May 23 to June 23 this year.

Mañoza said he and other workers did not receive night shift differential pay as well as PhilHealth, Social Security System and Pag-IBIG fund benefits.

Gatchalian said he would look into Mañoza’s allegations that the other factory workers have also received unjust treatment.

“There’s a pattern of you not treating your workers properly, both emotionally and economically. That is not the type of business we want here in Valenzuela. I am close to saying, you do not have a place here if that’s how you treat your workers,” Gatchalian told So in Filipino.

“Because in your eyes, you pay their labor in centavos. These are people with families and feelings,” Gatchalian added.

He warned the company that it may face legal cases over the labor dispute as well as an investigation by the Department of Labor and Employment.

So apologized to Mañoza for the distress the dispute has caused him. The worker accepted the apology.

“Hindi naman aabot sa ganito kung binayaran niyo ako nang maayos. Yung ibang tao sana, ayusin rin pagpapasahod sa kanila. Sana huwag na idamay ang ibang tao,” Mañoza said.

The factory has 15 days to rectify the mistakes or face revocation of business permit, Gatchalian said.

Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III said he ordered an investigation of the company for alleged unfair labor practices. – Mayen Jaymalin