6 workers rescued from Zambo City illegal recruiter

The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) has rescued six workers who fell victim to an unlicensed recruiter, who in turn brought them to an unregistered manpower agency in Zamboanga City. “Yesterday (August 4), the DOLE regional office No. 9 in Zamboanga City had rescued six of eight workers from Palo, Leyte who were recruited on July 28 by an agent and brought to Zamboanga City, where they were turned over to a manpower agency that in turn supplied them to a canning factory in the city," said DOLE Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz in a statement posted on the department’s website. The rescue was prompted by a letter from the parents of eight workers airing complaints about unpaid wages and benefits. The companies involved were Northwest Manpower Services in barangay Ayala, and Aquatic Food Corporation in Recodo, both in Zamboanga City. “Our labor inspectors have verified the complaint to be valid. The agent who recruited them is not licensed and the manpower agency that placed them to the canning factory is unregistered," Baldoz said. The six rescued workers were identified as Roland Roche, Fedelito Villones, Jogie Villones, Jay Alimangohan, and Erwin Casinillo, all of barangay Pilit, Sta. Fe town, Leyte. They are presently staying at the DOLE Region 9 dormitories and will soon return to their hometown after filing with the courts their complaints against the two companies, the release stated. Baldoz said Northwest will be closed pending legal action against it, while Aquatic Food will be made to directly pay the wages and other monetary benefits due to the workers. Following the rescue, the DOLE regional office ordered surveillance operations in all piers, bus terminals, and other entry and exit points in coordination with local authorities. Further, regional director Ponciano Ligutom issued an advisory to all employers warning them not to engage or enter into contract with contractors of subcontractors who are not registered with the DOLE. “You are reminded to cease and desist from entering into a service contract agreement if the contractor or sub-contractor is engaged in labor-only contracting, which is prohibited," said Ligutom. Labor-only contracting refers to an arrangement where the contractor or subcontractor merely recruits, supplies or places workers to perform a job for an employer, where, for instance, the contractor does not exercise control over the work of the employee. The DOLE said it was the first rescue they made under the Labor Enforcement and Action Program (LEAP), designed to conduct regional inspections to ensure that establishments comply with labor standards. Last August 1, the DOLE started implementing LEAP, which aims to raise compliance to labor standards, such as the minimum wage; 13th month, holiday, premium, overtime, and night differential pay, and leave and other benefits. The department plans to inspect over 60,000 establishments throughout the country under the program, more than half of which are targeted to be inspected by the end of November this year.—Jerrie M. Abella/JV, GMANews.TV