Call center owes employees P9.2M

CEBU, Philippines – The Department of Labor and Employment-7 noted several violations committed by Direct Access Corporation and its officials during their inspection conducted last week.

In a press conference yesterday, representatives of the company’s 664 terminated workers revealed the said violations.

Based on the labor inspection report, Direct Access Corporation has total payables of P9,258, 247.65 to its terminated workforce representing non-payment of overtime pay, incentives, allowances, night shift differential, proportionate 13th month pay and unlawful withholding of slaries/wages affecting 664 workers/employees.

“It is not P6.4 million but P9.2 million,” said Dennis Derige, spokesperson of Partido ng Manggagawa who is assisting the workers on what actions to take with their recent plight.

The group initially said that the company has payables of at least P6.4 million to the workers.

The US-based call center company that is located at Asiatown I.T. Park in Lahug, Cebu City, was also found to have failed to remit the employees’ premiums to Philhealth and Social Security System from March to July, 2012 and non-remittance of Pag-ibig contributions from April to July 2012.

Jeffrey Newman, Direct Access Corporation’s chief operating officer was also found to have no alien working permit from DOLE.

The Associated Labor Unions-Trade Union Congress of the Philippines, the country’s largest labor federation, through its spokesperson, Art Barrit, said that they asked TUCP Partylist Rep. Raymond Democrito Mendoza to sponsor a House Resolution to conduct an investigation on the issue.

Sylvio Dorig, spokesperson of the group of workers also asked Malacañang’s intervention on their plight.

In their letter addressed to President Benigno Aquino III, they asked for financial assistance and for the issuance of a hold departure order against Newman.

The group also asked the President that a tripartite conference shall be held among stakeholders in the BPO, DOLE and the workers, in order to discuss the possible introduction of strict labor standards and relations so that what happened to the workers will not happen to other workers in the said industry.

Direct Access Corporation’s workers were all terminated last July 30, reportedly without notice from the company, who declared that they have no more funds. –Mitchelle L. Palaubsanon/MIT (The Freeman)