Investigation sought: Dino alleges labor “mafia”

CEBU, Philippines - Four days before Labor Day, Presidential Assistant for the Visayas Michael Lloyd Dino took a swipe on the country’s labor arbitration process, which he alleged is coddling a “mafia”.

He said the same must be investigated.

“Mafia in the labor arbitration process must be investigated. It’s not necessary that my office will probe it. I am urging for an investigation regardless what office will probe it. I have a first-hand experience on this syndicated labor arbitration,” Dino said.

Dino said that when his family’s company closed a few years ago, they had to undergo certain procedures with the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) when their dismissed employees signed a quitclaim in front of a labor official.

A quitclaim is the document an employee signs, which says the company the employee used to be a part of has settled all its liabilities to that employee concerned.

They were surprised, however, when one of the employees still filed a case against the company despite signing the quitclaim.

The labor case remains pending.

“I know nahitabo na ang mga ing-ana tungod sa mafia nga ang lawyer ug ang arbiter magkunsabo,” he said.

“Be that as it may, the mafia gets the biggest chunk of the settlement money while the poor workers just roost over his or her very meager settlement money,” Dino said.

He said this alleged syndicated arbitration must be stopped if the government wants to promote industrial peace that activates inclusive growth and genuine development.

 “There’s no company that has no labor case but when you have a labor case, it does not mean you are labor oppressor, only that the mafia is out to blackmail the company,” Dino said.

Dino added that when business bogged down in an area where the alleged mafia operates, investors will simply pull out and bring their investments to other areas.

The Freeman tried but failed to get a reaction from the regional office of the National Labor Relations Commission (NLRC).

Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) - 7 Elias Cayanong said labor arbiters are under the jurisdiction of NLRC and he personally is not aware of Dino’s allegations.

Highlighting the administration’s policy of maintaining harmonious relationship between the government and the business sector, Dino said the public must understand that Labor Day on May 1 is not only for laborers but also for investors and businessmen who pay the workers.

He again criticized Mayor Tomas Osmeña’s recent moves to go after establishments that allegedly do not pay the right taxes.

“As a mayor, you should not incite class hatred among the investors and the poor. To shut down establishments in order to help the city scholars and the rest of the constituencies is a misplaced notion moored at the dictum of hooligan politics,” he said.

He said that being mayor does not give Osmeña the right to oppress investors for political expediency.

 “Truth is, even if you are the mayor, the sin of commission in shutting down establishments is making the poor the real hostage,” Dino said. (FREEMAN)