DOTr, MIAA Assure Sacked NAIA Janitors of Alternative Job

The Department of Transportation (DOTr) and the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) assured the recently-terminated janitors working at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) that there will be alternative jobs for them soon.

DOTr Spokesperson Cherie Mercado made this guarantee, saying that MIAA General Manager Ed Monreal is slated to meet with these janitors on Monday morning to discuss realignment.

Some janitors were terminated last week in line with the Duterte administration’s campaign promise to end contractualization or end-of-contract (endo) among employees.

Following a new agreement between the government and Philippine carriers that states the latter will handle the maintenance and upkeep of public restrooms at the four terminals at no government cost, some janitors were also terminated after the airlines decided not to absorb them.

Mercado said that Monreal will look at the janitors’ track records for re-absorption and require them to stick to high-service standards.

“MIAA assures termination not the end of janitors’ job in NAIA. They will fill more than 150 utility jobs needed in other parts of the airport,” Mercado said via Twitter.

Mercado further said that utility workers not absorbed by the airlines will be set for re-absorption in other areas in NAIA under MIAA.

MIAA, for its part, issued a statement to stress that the terminated janitors will not be deemed unemployed.

“The reabsorption will make sure benefits not present before will be given to the employees to avoid the typical pitfalls of a 5-5-5 endo agreement,” MIAA said.

“MIAA assures utility workers (janitors) not absorbed by the airlines that there will be a realignment and they do not have to lose their jobs,” it further said.

Beginning Aug. 1, restrooms in NAIA passenger areas will be managed by airlines (sometimes trough their ground handling agents), Mercado said. (PNA) JMC/ANP