Labor Sec Roque and other officials must resign for gross negligence w/c resulted in Hanjin’s deaths

Labor Secretary Roque and other officials must resign for gross negligence that resulted in Hanjin’s deaths and other similar cases - KMU

THE labor group Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU) today called for the resignation of Labor Secretary Marianito Roque and all DOLE officials for gross negligence and failure to protect the safety of Filipino workers, particularly in Hanjin Heavy Industries Construction Incorporated.

Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Bureau of Working Condition’s Brenda Villafuerte admitted in a Senate investigation yesterday that labor officials were only allowed entry inside the Hanjin facility when successive accidents occurred at the facility  which resulted to 19 deaths of workers and numerous injuries.

“ Labor Secretary Marianito Roque together with other DOLE officials must resign immediately because of gross negligence to protect Hanjin workers and all the Filipino workers in the country,” KMU Spokesperson Prestoline Suyat said.

The DOLE had also disclosed in the investigation that more than 4,000 accidents were recorded and reported since 2006 in Hanjin facility which victimized thousands of workers. The Senate investigation also revealed  that the 349 hectares facility has no resident doctor but only three nurses which attend to tens of thousands workers. 

“ By admission of  Brenda Villafuerte, the DOLE had admitted that they were helpless in asserting the sovereignty of the Philippines to protect our workers in working places where multinational corporations or foreign businessmen operate. We are correct in our consistent assertion in the past that our government officials, and sadly, labor officials, are beholden to foreign powers. They cannot even assert to inspect working places where Filipino laborers are exploited and exposed to dangerous working conditions and occupational hazards,” Suyat said.

Suyat also registered that the case in Hanjin also reflect the unsafe and anti-workers condition of all export processing zones and business enclaves in all parts of the country.

“ We have continuously stated in the past that the laws and regulations of our country, including the Philippine Constitution, are not respected and followed inside export processing zones and business enclaves wherein core labor standards are violated with impunity. Inside these working place, foreign capitalists particularly Koreans, Taiwanese, Americans and Japanese and their companies are operating, a no-union and no strike policy is followed strictly and minimum wage for workers is not followed. Sadly, our labor officials know these and still they can sleep comfortably at night while millions of workers are suffering and exploited in our own country,” Suyat said.

Suyat also asserted that legislators must not only review the  Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) Charter which govern Hanjin but also called for a full-blown investigation why the Philippine Constitution, and the laws of country do not apply inside the export processing zones and business enclaves. He also asked that justice must be served to the victims and their families.

“ We are asking our good congressmen and senators to hold a full-blown investigations in in the export processing zones and business enclaves all over the country. We are also demanding that not only Hanjin officials but also labor officials must also be held criminally-liable for the deaths and injuries in Hanjin Inc. Justice must be accorded to us workers, “ Suyat stressed.

A bus transporting employees of Hanjin Heavy Industries Inc. fell into a ravine in Subic, Zambales yesterday morning injuring more than 20 workers.