WORKERS of a sugar milling company in the northern town of Medellin, Cebu have received P5,000 from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD)-Central Visayas after they were forced to adopt the “no work, no pay” principle for a month.

The financial assistance, along with 10 kilos of rice donated by the Municipal Government, was distributed on Tuesday, August 16, 2022, to 240 administrative staff and factory workers at the municipal gym.

Oliver Ian Sanjorjo, head of the company’s labor union, said this is the first time in his 25 years working for the company that work had been suspended for a month.

"Nagpasalamat mi sa DSWD og sa local government namo dinhi nga naa sila gihatag nga ayuda para namo (I would like to thank the agency and the local government for their help)," Sanjorjo said.

He said his job at the company is his main source of income to support his family.

He said that after the milling season in the middle of May, employees usually go on forced leave or vacation for days with pay. They then return to work to do some repairs and to prepare for the next milling season, he said.

However, this year, the company suspended work from July 15 to August 15, leaving employees with no salary during this period and forcing them to seek government aid, Sanjorjo said. (HBL/With PR)