700 Pinoys in Subic lose jobs

A TAIWANESE firm at Subic Bay Freeport Zone dismissed close to 700 Filipino workers, the Department of Labor and Employment (Dole) said Friday.

In a statement, the Dole said the Wistron InfoComm Philippines Corp. is set to lay-off a total of 694 workers.

“The workers facing retrenchment were affected by the firm’s downsizing, particularly the closure of the firm’s Mobile System Unit (MSU) operations last July 5,” said Dole Communications Office Director Nicon Fameronag.

Citing a report from the Dole Regional Office No. 3, the company was forced to close down its MSU after the “volume of business has substantially decreased” leading to the decline of the company’s profitability.

But Fameronag noted that the company has decided to double the separation pay to be given to the affected workers.

“Instead of just half month salary, each affected worker will be given separation benefits equivalent to one month salary for every year of service together with all other remaining compensation and benefits due them,” the labor official related.

Fameronag added that the workers will also be paid one-month worth of salary in lieu of the 30-day notice period.

The lay-off leaves a total of 696 workers out of Wistron’s 1,390 total workforce, according to DOLE.

Meanwhile, Fameronag said the department is ready to provide employment facilitation services to assist the affected workers in finding new jobs, whether locally or overseas.

Livelihood and training assistance will also be extended by labor department to workers, who may opt to instead set-up business undertakings. (AMN/Sunnex)