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Hanjin
scores misinfo of
dismissed workers
By
KIT BAGAIPO
Hanjin
Heavy Industries and Construction (HHIC) clarifies they will not yet be paying
some 420 illegally dismissed former workers during a conference called by the
labor arbiter this Wednesday.
In
a press statement, Hanjin's legal counsel Antonio Arabejo said that the former
workers are being told by "some quarters" that they would be paid on
Wednesday during the Pre-Execution Conference called by the National Labor Relations
Commission (NLRC), this city.
According
to Arabejo, the workers will not be paid on that day and that the misinformation
spread around to the former workers is just putting Hanjin in a bad light.
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TThe workers were
employed by the Korean firm in 1995 during the construction of the Malinao Dam
in Pilar town but were laid off upon completion of the project in 1996.
The
Supreme Court awarded the dismissed workers some P66 million in back wages and
benefits in 2006.
An
order issued by NLRC-Bohol labor arbiter Fructuoso Villarin IV warned that "pre-execution
conferences are not held for the purpose of delivering the judgment award but
to find means to facilitate enforcement of the award." |
In fact,
the labor arbiter has already warned lawyers of the complainant-workers and Hanjin
to "refrain from misleading the parties".
The
labor arbiter's warning came after many of the workers went to the NLRC office
last May 14, which was the original date of the conference.
"[The
workers] would unnecessarily spend time and money attending the conference only
to be frustrated of their hopes," the order stated.
Arabejo
also noted that the Supreme Court has not yet resolved a motion filed by counsel
of the complainants to cite Villarin and his staff for contempt of court "for
entering into and facilitating amicable settlements with some of the workers".
Even
with the finality of the Supreme Court decision, settlements are still allowed
under labor laws, according to Arabejo. | 
