25,000 workers may lose jobs in Metro Manila alone

At least 25,000 workers in Metro Manila are likely to lose their jobs in the first quarter of the year due to labor disputes and financial problems affecting commercial establishments in Metro Manila.

Records of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) showed that a total of 15,422 workers are threatened by possible displacement because of on-going labor disputes in 57 Metro Manila commercial firms.

DOLE-National Conciliation and Mediation Board (NCMB) acting administrator Gilbert Pimentel said unions in the 57 companies filed notices of strike last January.

Pimentel said the notices of strike stemmed from charges of unfair labor practices and deadlocks in collective bargaining agreement (CBA) negotiations.

Aside from the 57 companies whose unions have filed notices of strikes with the NCMB, more than 100 other commercial firms in Metro Manila have also filed notices of retrenchment.

From Jan. 1-9, a total of 104 companies filed notices for the termination of about 3,000 workers to ease their firms’ financial difficulties. Commercial firms in Metro Manila accounted for over half or 33,447 of the total 61,239 workers retrenched nationwide from January to November last year.

To address the aniticipated displacement of 20,000 workers, Labor Secretary Patricia Sto. Tomas ordered the immediate holding of job and livelihood fairs. – Mayen Jaymalin