Subic firms retrench workers due to coronavirus pandemic losses

SUBIC BAY FREEPORT — At least 20 companies at the Subic Bay Freeport have implemented retrenchment measures affecting close to 3,500 workers because of financial difficulties brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic.

A report from the Labor Department of the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) indicated that the affected companies applied cost-cutting measures like forced leave, compressed workweek schedules, or outright termination of workers since February when the COVID-19 outbreak began to hurt businesses worldwide.

(READ: PH unemployment at all-time high with 7.3 million jobless in April 2020)

The report showed that as of June 2, a total of 2,435 workers underwent forced leave while 124 others were bumped off by compressed workweek schedules because of low demand for company products or due to lack of materials and supplies for production.

On the other hand, a total of 883 workers have been terminated from employment since mid-February due to financial losses suffered by their companies.

The companies with the most number of terminated employees were computer device manufacturer Wistron Infocomm (Philippines) Corp., with 551 affected workers; port operator Subic Bay International Terminal Corp., with 121; theme park operator Subic Bay Marine Exploratorium, Inc., with 110; and importer Simon & Stanley International Trading & Development Co., with 74.

Wistron also placed hundreds of workers on forced leave in February and March before finally separating their 551 employees last April.

Meanwhile, ship repair firm Subic Drydock Corporation (SDC) is scheduled to separate 52 employees on June 25 after implementing a mandatory leave for 149 workers on May 1 to 15, the SBMA report showed.

Subic Drydock administrative manager Diana Ross Mazo said in a statement that the imposition of enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) last March “forced the business to shut down for two months without revenue.”

Mazo said that despite the cancellation of project bookings, the SDC has called 40 percent of its employees back to work since the company’s staggered reopening starting May 18.

“Over the next few weeks, SDC will gradually increase capacity in support of the ‘new norm’. However, based on careful review of our operation, we need to reduce manpower by separating some of our employees effective June 25,” she added.

Mazo said the company will abide by laws and regulations regarding the separation of workers and will provide the applicable 13th month and service incentive leave pay, as well as half month pay per year of service. 

She added that SDC officials, along with representatives from the SBMA Labor Department and the Department of Labor and Employment’s satellite office in Olongapo City, met with the affected workers in 6 batches until June11 to process the termination.

SBMA Labor Department manager Melvin Varias said his office is closely monitoring the implementation by Subic companies of their retrenchment measures to ensure compliance with labor laws.

Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, various locators in the Subic Bay Freeport Zone employed a total of 138,940 workers, with close to 70 percent in the services sector and more than 15 percent in manufacturing, Varias said. 

The terminated workers comprise about 0.6 percent of this total. – Rappler.com