44 Celestica workers file illegal dismissal charges before NLRC

CEBU, Philippines – Forty-four workers of electronics factory Celestica at the Mactan Export Processing Zone I have filed illegal dismissal charges against the company before the National Labor Relations Commission.

Romeo Moritcho, Jr., the leader of the 44 agency workers, said the company allegedly turned a deaf ear on the workers’ petition and protest, which them to file the charges. The workers are also asking for a separation pay.

Moritcho said more agency workers are expected to join as complainants in the case.

The agency workers allege that they are already considered regular employees of Celestica since they have worked for the company for several years already.

They are demanding a termination pay of 45 days per year of service, similar to the separation package of regular workers of Celestica. The company is due to close down on August 31.

Last July 30, around 50 workers picketed at the MEPZ I gates and the office of Cebu General Services, the agency that contracts work for Celestica.

In a dialogue between the protesting workers and representatives of the Philippine Export Zone Authority the other day, the latter relayed a message from Celestica that the management has already forwarded all the benefits due to the agency workers to Cebu General Services.

However, the agency claimed they have not received a cent from Celestica. The Celestica management had boycotted the dialogue.

Moritcho said Celestica and Cebu General Services are pointing at each other and neither is willing to come forward for its responsibilities to workers who have labored for years to make Celestica a US$8 billion company in 2008.

Renato Magtubo, chairperson of Partido ng Manggagawa, said the group is supporting the fight of the agency workers and slammed at Celestica for being a “heartless giant that throws its workers like rags after wringing all the value from them.” — Mitchelle L. Palaubsanon/JMO (THE FREEMAN)