Saturday, July 26, 2008 Labor official tells Sulpicio, janitorial firm to release pay, benefits to workers
THE Department of Labor and Employment (Dole) yesterday said that Sulpicio Lines Inc. and J and R Janitorial Services may be held liable by the families of more than 60 utility workers still missing since the mv Princess of the Stars sank last June 21.
In a press conference, Labor Secretary Marianito D. Roque was informed by Medellin Mayor Ricardo Ramirez that four utility workers from his town and more than 60 from Daanbantayan were among those on board when the vessel sank.
Ramirez said he called up Sulpicio Lines but was told the utility workers were employed by J and R Janitorial Services.
“I am raising this question to you, Mr. Secretary, because it seems the owner of J and R is doing nothing to solve this problem,” Ramirez said.
The company reportedly belongs to Cebu Provincial Board Member Jose Mari Gastar-do. Calls and messages sent to his mobile phone went unanswered as of press time.
Rep. Benhur Salimbangon said that when the families filed claims for benefits, these were denied because according to Sulpicio Lines lawyers, some of those missing were neither employees nor passengers.
Instead, they worked for concessionaires, such as employees in the spa and massage parlor, canteen, restaurant and janitorial services.
“How do we help them, so the aggrieved families can at least have the same benefits in the amount of P200,000 granted to the families of the passengers who died?”
Salimbangon asked Roque.
Roque said he will refer the matter to the Dole legal department so that they can establish the relationship between the concessionaries’ workers and Sulpicio Lines.
“We have to conduct a legal study and see what and how we can attach or how we can be of help to them as far as their claims are concerned,” Roque said.
In a related development, Daanbantayan Mayor Sun J. Shimura said that his administration has allocated P360,000 in financial assistance to the families of the concessionaire-workers, at P5,000 per family.
Shimura said that the Department of Social Welfare and Development has prepared the list of beneficiaries and the money may be distributed soon. (EOB)
