PLDT appeals DoLE order on contractual employees
PHILIPPINE Long Distance Telephone Co. (PLDT) on Monday said it filed an appeal with Labor Secretary Silvestre H. Bello III over the agency’s order directing the regularization of close to 9,000 workers.
In a disclosure to the stock exchange, PLDT said it is contesting the Compliance Order dated July 3 issued by the Department of Labor and Employment (DoLE) National Capital Region office, which alleged the telecommunications giant and its third-party service contractors have violated labor standards.
The DoLE’s order asserted PLDT and 48 of its contractors did not fully pay monetary benefits to some workers totaling around P78.6 million. It also noted PLDT violated DoLE Order no. 18-A on contracting- out, which means the telco giant should issue regular employment positions to around 8,720 contractual workers.
However, PLDT said it is contesting the DoLE’s findings, and filed the appeal before Mr. Bello’s office last July 17.
“The Appeal questions ( a) the absence of evidence and the use of ‘ template’ findings by the DoLE for these conclusions; ( b) the DoLE’s disregard of PLDT’s and its contractors’ evidence; ( c) the erroneous computation of the P78.6- million monetary award, whereby individual worker entitlements were reckoned without regard for different rates of pay, hours of alleged actual overtime rendered, and other relevant factors; and ( d) the DoLE’s violation of PLDT’s and its contractors’ due process rights,” the telecommunications company said.
As of July 21, PLDT said the appeal has yet to be acted upon.
“In accordance with the rules of procedure for these types of cases, the filing of the Appeal stays the execution of any aspect of the Order, for the duration of the Appeal,” PLDT said.
Shares in PLDT Inc. slipped 0.59% or P10 to close Monday’s trading at P1,690 apiece.
Hastings Holdings, a unit of PLDT Beneficial Trust Fund subsidiary MediaQuest Holdings, Inc., has a stake in BusinessWorld through the Philippine Star Group, which it controls. —