Workers of the Korean shipbuilder Hanjin Heavy Industries Corp. in the Philippines were advised not to sign “voluntary resignation” papers as doing so would strip them of their rightful benefits, Department of Labor and Employment Secretary Silvestre Bello III said yesterday.
In an interview with DZMM radio, Bello said he personally advised the Hanjin workers not to sign resignation papers during his last visit to the shipbuilder’s facility at the Subic Bay Freeport in Subic, Zambales.
“Sinabihan ko nga sila na ‘wag silang pumayag na mag-resign kasi kapag ikaw nag-resign, hindi ka entitled sa separation pay. Kung totoo man ‘yun, illegal ‘yun. ‘Wag silang pumayag. Palusot iyon,” Bello said.
Director Dominique Tutay of the DoLE-Bureau of Local Employment on Wednesday said they are verifying reports that some Hanjin workers were being forced to resign.
Hanjin earlier filed for a court-assisted rehabilitation to pay off about $400-million debt to five lending local banks. Due to this, some 3,000 employees of the firm are feared to be at risk of losing their jobs once the shipyard ceases operations.
Displaced workers of Hanjin Heavy Industries were prioritized during the “Build, Build, Build” Jobs Caravan at the Subic Bay Freeport. (Leslie Ann G. Aquino)