Labor groups have condemned a series of government raids on steel and metal manufacturing plants that reportedly resulted in the displacement of around 900 workers in Luzon and Mindanao.
The Federation of Free Workers (FFW) and the Kilusang Mayo Uno-Southern Mindanao Region (KMU-SMR) said the operations by the Department of National Defense (DND), Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) and National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) left hundreds of workers without jobs or immediate government assistance.
The raids were conducted over alleged violations involving undocumented workers, radioactive-bearing industrial materials and substandard steel products.
FFW president Sonny Matula said workers should not be left without protection when government operations result in company closures or work stoppages.
He said workers are entitled to job security, livelihood and immediate assistance, particularly when their displacement results from a government action.
“If the primary concern for the raid is the presence of undocumented workers, officials of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) must be part of the government operations,” Matula said.
“We call on DOLE to lead the inspection,” he added.
In Davao City, more than 300 workers of Davao Mighty Steel were displaced following an Aug. 13 raid by the DND and NBI at the company’s steel plant in Barangay Ilang, Bunawan.
KMU-SMR questioned the government’s use of the term “rescue” in describing the operation, saying workers themselves were left facing unemployment and uncertainty.
“If this was truly a rescue operation, where is the rescue for workers who now face unemployment, uncertainty and the prospect of feeding their families without a steady income?” the group said.
“We stand in solidarity with the displaced Davao Mighty Steel workers and demand immediate assistance, protection of their rights, and accountability from the agencies responsible for the operation and its aftermath,” it added.
In Pampanga, an NBI operation assisted by the Philippine National Police resulted in the shutdown of Chuangxing Steel Inc. in Magalang, displacing 347 Filipino workers and 37 Chinese nationals.
Another raid in May at a steel manufacturing plant in Tagoloan, Misamis Oriental displaced up to 316 workers.
The operations have been conducted as part of government efforts to address alleged violations of nuclear safety and consumer protection laws.
Despite the displacement, NBI Director Melvin Matibag said the agency’s crackdown on steel plants would continue, with about 20 more facilities nationwide being scrutinized for possible product and workplace safety violations.
“Ang ginagawang effort ng NBI at PAOCC and other law enforcement agencies will not end in Davao, pupuntahan din namin yung mga ibang lugar pa,” Matibag said.#