Japanese firm ordered to pay P26 M

By Mayen Jaymalin (The Philippine Star), May 29, 2017

MANILA, Philippines – A Japanese firm operating at the Cavite economic zone has been ordered to pay its workers P26 million in unpaid benefits.

The order to the House Technology Industries Pte. Ltd. (HTI) came almost four months after a fire hit the firm’s facility in General Trias, Cavite in February.

Citing the results of an investigation, Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Secretary Silvestre Bello said over the weekend that the HTI’s seven contractors failed to pay the workers’ leave credits.

“The HTI contractors must pay the workers P15.6 million illegally deducted from them as well as service incentive leave credits amounting to P10.8 million,” Bello said.

The company was also ordered to immediately correct the occupational safety and health standard violations found by DOLE’s investigating team.

The labor department cancelled the certificate of compliance with general labor, occupational safety and health standards of HTI and its contractors.

The company is undergoing assessment for compliance with contracting rules and regulations.

Labor Undersecretary Joel Maglundos earlier reported the DOLE was investigating HTI not only for violation of occupational safety and health standards, but also for engaging in “endo” or end of contract scheme.

Maglundos said the HTI has at least 6,000 contractual workers.