Workers ask DOLE-7: Probe pullout of tools

CEBU, Philippines – The workers of a call center company that shut down without due notice are asking the Department of Labor and Employment to look into reports that Eziconnect Philippines is secretly removing the computer units from its building.

Dennis Derige, spokesperson of Partido Manggagawa-Cebu Chapter, which is assisting the Eziconnect employees, stated that they are asking DOLE-7 for prompt and appropriate action.

 Derige said that on December 24, 2015 several men took out six computers, a day after 15 employees visited DOLE-7 to file a complaint for illegal closure. The call center company suddenly stopped operation on December 21 without prior notice.

Derige, in a statement, said that it appeared that Eziconnect did not just shut down illegally but has also become a runaway shop. He said that aside from one-half of a month salary and separation pay, the Eziconnect workers are also demanding financial assistance and damages.

Derige wants a speedy response from the government as the illegal shutdown of Eziconnect was the fifth case in Metro Cebu in the last four years.

 He cited the earlier cases of Direct Access, Cordia, Leadamorphosis and Blue Connect in which about 1,000 workers were displaced by the sudden closure.

  Derige said that through the help of PM partylist the workers of the four call centers received favorable settlements from the National Labor Relations Commission.

 The partylist group reiterated its request to the government to require BPOs to put up a bond to compensate workers in case of sudden or illegal closure.— /FPL (FREEMAN)