American shuts down firm; 416 employees clueless

MANILA, Philippines - An American businessman outsour­cing the manufacture of dental-related products in the country has closed down his shop in Manila and his 416 employees only found out about it through e-mail.

Workers of Skytech International Dental Laboratories said yesterday the company’s chief executive officer and owner, Laurence Kevin Fishman, has left them with unpaid salaries, benefits and office bills.

Wilfredo Galapon, a senior emplo­yee at the Sta. Mesa-based dental facility, said Fishman just sent an e-mail last Aug. 24 from the US, informing senior officers about the closing down of the production laboratory effective Aug. 25 due to bankruptcy.

Galapon said the American businessman did not even give them a notice on the closing down of the company, which has been operating for the last 15 years.

“It happened so fast. No clues, no notices. And we only learned about it through e-mail,” Galapon said.

From his US office, Fishman e-mailed his executive vice president for Manila operations, Wilma Ledler, also an American, of the decision to close shop. Ledler was also shocked with the decision.

The American-owned company engages in the production of dental prosthetics, which are used for the company’s international clients.

The company has also laboratories in Vietnam and China and is headquartered in Los Angeles, California under the corporate name of Trident Dental Laboratories.

The employees said the company owes them at least P50 million in salaries and severance pay.

Fishman also left unpaid back rental of P1.7 million, P500 million in electricity bills and obligations to local suppliers, also reaching millions.

The owner of the building that the company occupies has since barred the employees from accessing their offices as of Thursday.

The Skytech workers said they did not know that the company was losing money since it employs three shifts of technicians practically 24 hours a day.

The workers said this may be Fishman’s way of getting back at them after a dismissed employee filed a case before the Bureau of Immigration (BI) last May.

They heard the BI has reportedly issued an adverse ruling against Fishman, who tried to retrench 150 employees.

Fishman last visited the Sta. Mesa office and production facility last May, which also coincided the filing of the BI case.

He runs Skytech from his US headquarters and only visits Manila three times a year.