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Thursday, October 23, 2003
First Farmers retrenches workers
By Clara Mae Hortelano
THE First Farmers Food Corporation in Talisay City cut down the number of 98 employees from January to October this year, disclosed the Department of Labor and Employment’s retrenchment data.
Dole revealed the firm filed before their office a notice of retrenchment in the months of January, February, July and September 2003 claiming that the company is suffering from financial losses.
FFFC’s letter to Dole stated the company is experiencing serious financial losses for the past three years compelling it to cease all aspects of their operation.
The losses could be verified through their audited financial documents, said FFFC.
For January, the company retrenched 28 employees; February - 1, July - 40; and September - 29.
Aside from FFFC, firms which also retrenched their employees include Kristine Steak House and Restaurant in Singcang-Araneta streets with 17 retrenched employees and the Bank of Philippine Islands-Araneta Branch with five employees.
Both firms cited financial losses as reason for retrenchment.
Ricardo Monegro, Dole-Negros Occidental officer-in-charge, said the retrenchment of the three firms is just minimal and would not even affect the economic movement of the local industry.
He added that Bacolod City ranked fourth in Dole’s employment rate data while the city’s unemployment rate was pegged at 11.5 percent, much lower compared to Iloilo’s 20.4 percent, which ranks first in the unemployment data.
On the other hand, Monegro said a number of employment opportunities in Bacolod are available as evidenced by the ongoing construction of commercial buildings.
“If one closes a door, there are those who open up to even two windows,” he said.
Earlier, Labor Undersecretary Josephus Jimenez said Dole hopes to reduce to 5 to 7 percent before the year ends the country’s rising unemployment rate at 12.7 percent as of July.
Jimenez added that to achieve the reduction on unemployment they have to generate local employment by supporting the small and medium enterprises of the country and providing job placements for Overseas Filipino Workers.
(October 23, 2003 issue)
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