Employees ask Capitol to help get their benefits

CEBU, Philippines - Outsourced Capitol employees who worked in the district hospitals in Cebu Province have asked Governor Hilario Davide III to compel their agency to grant them their benefits.

Medical and non-personnel hired by the 5 Stars Amalgamated Manpower and Allied Services, Inc. contracted by the Province of Cebu made their concerns known to the governor although their contract already expired last  December 31.

These include the non-payment of their 13th month pay for 2013, non-remittance of all legal benefits as provided by law, non-payment of legal holiday and overtime pay and allied benefits and alleged illegal deduction of salary such as monthly bond without justification.

They claimed that they have been working in district hospitals since last April and have been denied their compensation for three successive months, from September to November, by their agency.

"We, as health provider, did our duties in spite of the non-payment of our salary. We abandoned our families without food to eat because we are totally out of money and are morally obliged to do and fulfill our duties," they said in a letter dated Dec. 31, 2013.

Dr. Francisco Dayak, medical officer of Sogod and Danao District Hospitals, also the incumbent barangay captain of Bagatayam in Sogod town, signed the letter addressed to Davide on behalf of his colleagues.

Davide has expressed willingness to provide assistance to the employees.

The Capitol paid directly to employees their salaries last September 15 to October 31 instead of to the agency.

"We can demand from the agency nga pabayran sila, that is their obligation," Davide said.

Earlier, the group led by Vincent Paul Tellidua, had sought the assistance of the Department of Labor and Employment and a settlement agreement was reached last December 9.

The agency assured that remittances of Social Security System, Pag-Ibig, and PhilHealth contributions of the employees from April to December 2013 will be remitted before the year ended. It also promised to give the proportionate 13th month pay to the employees before December 24, 2013.

The employees shall claim their salaries from September to December 31, 2013 and their other proportionate 13th month pay (September 16 to December 31, 2013) from the Cebu Provincial Government.

Signing on behalf of the agency were Ryan Baylosis and Anacleto Salonoy Jr.

The settlement agreement was approved by DOLE Cebu provincial field office chief, Grace Diaz. —/BRP (FREEMAN)