Thursday, July 28, 2005
Bus company closes; over 100 workers idle
By Jenny Molbog-Mendoza
DAVAO CITY -- The shutdown of the oldest bus company in Davao City displaced more than a hundred drivers, conductors and other workers.
The Department of Labor and Employment (Dole) in the region, however, said the closure was just temporary and the company would be back in operation after six months.
"Within this month lang sila nag-submit ng notice of temporary shutdown sa amin. We are expecting that the stoppage of operation will not be more than six months. Kapag sinabi kasing temporary shutdown, within six months lang talaga yan," Dole 11 Regional Director Ma. Gloria Tango said.
Tango said they are still investigating what pushed the bus company to file the notice of temporary shutdown. She added that they have likewise lined up various programs for the displaced workers should management decide to make the closure permanent.
"Among the things that Dole can provide them, especially if the company really decides to permanently stop its operation, are job referrals, trainings for them to become employable again or they can possibly start their own enterprise, and employment counseling," she said.
Tango said when they heard that Reolsyl stopped operations, they sent a member of their Quick Response Team (QRT) to check the report. The QRT confirmed that the Reolsyl office was already padlocked and no one was around.
She said they also learned that Reolsyl already suffered difficulty purchasing spare parts for their buses.
"Right now, we are trying to get the side of the management," she said.
Since the company is unionized, Tango said, the Dole 11 will be summoning the union president to shed light on the problems that prevailed before the closure.
"'Yung 100 plus workers din kasi nag-submit ng complaint sa amin with regards to unpaid salaries," she said. (Sun.Star Davao/Sunnex)
(July 28, 2005 issue)
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