Thousands of workers from Carina Apparel stormed the Department of Labor and Employement (DOLE) in Intramuros, Manila to demand that Labor Sec. Rosalinda Baldoz step into the dispute between Carina management and the illegally dismissed workers.

Carina Apparel, manufacturer of high-end lingerie, shut down its operations since February 21 due to alleged financial loss. But union members said the company’s closure is illegal. “The company forced us to take leave of absence on Feb. 14,” said Hermilina Begeuras, a line operation leader.

On Feb. 8, 2014, workers received a memorandum from the company’s human resource department that stated there will be no work schedule from Feb. 14-21, due to delays of materials. The company also said that workers will get half of their salary and 70 percent of the remaining days for the month of February.

“We are surprised that when we returned for work on Feb. 22, the company was already closed,” Beruegas said.

More than 3,000 workers lost their job as a result. Majority of those were women who worked in the company for 14 years.

“The company practically ignored our long service by illegally terminating us,” Bereugas said. She received a monthly wage of at least P15,000, but others received daily wage amounting to P397 paid every 15 days.

The workers demanded that DOLE release a return-to-work order, or else give separation pay and other benefits to the workers if Carina closure is deemed final.

Dole’s response

Pagkakaisa ng Manggagawa sa Timog Katagalugan-Kilusang Mayo Uno (Pamantik-KMU) accompanied union leaders in a dialogue with DOLE.

Hermie Marasigan, Pamantik-KMU president , said that a DOLE representative told them that Carina’s closure is not yet final.

“Even the labor department is at loss to the status of the company. The management filed two closure letter, one is final closure and the other is a temporary closure,” Marasigan said.

Marasigan added that the government has been “greatly neglecting workers” facing the same situation. He attributed the sudden closures of companies and factories to inadequacy of monitoring mechanism of DOLE.

Unsatisfied with DOLE’s response, Elmer Mercado, vice-president of Carina Apparel Inc. Labor Union or Cailu, challenged the labor department to summon the legal adviser of Carina and force its owners to face the workers. “Dole’s response is unclear, they should force the management to face and talk to us,” Mercado said.

The workers also fear that the closure could pave the way for labor contractualization scheme. Union leaders said that the closure came less than a week before their collective bargaining agreement negotiation was about to start.

Carina Apparel manufactures high end lingerie’s for export like Calvin Klein, Victoria’s Secret, Gap, Marks & Spencer.