Workers in Japan Firms in the Philippines Also “Hit” By Disaster

Workers in Japan Firms in the Philippines Also “Hit” By Disaster

  “The Philippine government has been giving foreign companies, including Japanese firms, a lot of incentives and perks. We hope the government would also extend to us some help and immediate relief, especially now that hundreds to thousands of Filipino workers may be adversely affected by the disaster that hit their parent or supplier companies in Japan.” – Dexter Datu, chairman of Metalworkers Alliance of the Philippines (MWAP)

By MARYA SALAMAT
Bulatlat.com

CABUYAO, Laguna –- Some Japanese firms producing cars in the Philippines reportedly told their local employees here that if the situation in Japan continues to worsen in the aftermath of the earthquake and tsunami, their operations here may eventually be affected by lack of raw materials starting next month. This could result in a shutdown and retrenchment of employees by May, further worsening the problem of joblessness in the country.

Dexter Datu, chairman of Metalworkers Alliance of the Philippines (MWAP) and president of the union of employees of International Wiring Systems, a Japanese-owned company based in Luisita Industrial Park in Tarlac, told Bulatlat.com they would bring the suggestions they gathered from their members to Malacañang and to other government agencies such as the labor department in an effort to seek aid and relief as the disasters in Japan threaten now to cause layoffs and loss of employee benefits to workers in the Philippines.

(Contributed photo / bulatlat.com)

“The Philippine government has been giving foreign companies, including Japanese firms, a lot of incentives and perks. We hope the government would also extend to us some help and immediate relief, especially now that hundreds to thousands of Filipino workers may be adversely affected by the disaster that hit their parent or supplier companies in Japan,” Datu said. Their group has just concluded a consultation with workers in some Japanese-owned companies in Laguna. They are still about to hold other consultations with members in Central Luzon, as well as in the Visayas..... MORE

Source:  Bulatlat.com

URL: http://bulatlat.com/main/2011/04/08/workers-in-japan-firms-in-rp-also-%E2%80%9Chit%E2%80%9D-by-disaster/