DOLE Orders Popular Food Chain to Regularize More Than 6,000 Workers

The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) has ordered a popular food chain to regularize more than 6,000 workers in line with the government’s relentless campaign to stop illegal work contractualization.

DOLE National Capital Region Director Henry John Jalbuena said his office has ordered Jollibee Foods Corporation (JFC) to regularize 6,482 workers deployed by its two contractors.

Aside from providing regular employment status to its workers, JFC was also directed to refund illegally collected payments to 426 affected workers in the amount of P15,432,305.00 for Coop Share, Coop Christmas Party Paluwagan Fund, and Coop Savings Fund.

In addition, five of its contractors were also ordered to return unlawful wage deductions, bonds, donations, shares and other illegal payment collections to 412 affected workers with a total amount of P4,137,158.15.

Leading the list of liable contractors are Citiwide Basic Commodities and Manpower Services, Inc. with total financial obligation of P1,853,578.00 to 40 workers for refund on cash bond for motorcycle rentals, and unpaid service incentive leaves and holiday pay.

Furthermore, Generation One Resource Service and Multi-Purpose Cooperative was ordered to refund share capital, cooperative shares, membership fees, damayan fund, and compensate the unpaid holiday pay earnings of 287 workers with a total amount of P1,180,363.15.

Collected COOP Shares and uniform costs were also directed to be returned to 24 workers with a total amount of P440,300 by the Integral Care Formation Service Cooperative while a total of P464,012.00 was ordered to be refunded to 47 workers of Toptrend Service Corporation for motorcycle rentals.

The compliance order also accounts MetroGuards Security Agency Corporation to return donations and reimburse unpaid holiday pay earnings of 14 workers amounting to P199,905.00.

Aside from Jollibee, the DOLE has also issued a compliance order to Perf Restaurant also known as Burger King directing them to regularize 704 workers deployed by its three contractors.

The labor department has also set schedules for establishment inspection on McDonalds and Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) Restaurants to ensure their compliance with labor laws.

Last month, a mandatory conference was conducted by the DOLE Makati and Pasay Field Offices with the management of Chowking with succeeding dialogues set this month. Another mandatory conference with the management of Mang Inasal foods is also set with the Quezon City Field Office. (DOLE/EPC/SDL/PIA-NCR)