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A. LE FLOCH
A RESOLUTION supporting the sugar workers and laborers’ plight on the feared ‘dead season’ was passed both by the District Tripartite Councils of the Victorias Milling Corporation (VMC) and the Lopez Sugar Mill District (LSMD) recently, said Alan Gozon of the Democratic Association and Labor Organization (Dalo).
Gozon said a meeting was held May 5 at Dole Negros Provincial Office with the District Tripartite Councils of the two milling entities where they signified support to the appeal filed by Dalo and the different labor organizations last April 7, requesting the Secretary of Labor to reconsider the resolution passed by the Sugar Tripartite Council to course thru the P16.709-million to the three big planters associations of SIFI, NFSP and Unifed.
“After a thorough deliberation, it was unanimously decided that the unclaimed amelioration bonus of the sugar workers, which totaled P16.709 million if ever released, shall be given directly to the sugar farm workers thru rice assistance during the lean months,” Gozon said.
Lopez and VMC DTC representatives who were composed of millers, planters association, mill and plantation workers decided to support the appeal as the amount derived from the unclaimed bonus of the sugar workers was really intended as support to the workers during lean months, Gozon said.
“This was triggered due to the clamor of the different planters’ association that the global financial crisis might result to longer lean months that will affect the sugar workers, hence the provincial government supported the move for the release of unclaimed amelioration bonus of the sugar workers,” he added. “Due to this reason, it is only proper that the amount shall be utilized in order to directly support the need of the workers in the different haciendas in the province and will no longer pass thru SIFI, NFSP and Unifed.”(George m. de la Cruz)