NutriAsia Inc. in a statement on Thursday said it will appeal an order this week by the Department of Labor and Employment (DoLE) to regularize 80 workers under the company’s arrangement with AsiaPro Multi-Purpose Cooperative (AsiaPro).
In the statement, NutriAsia Spokesperson and Head of Human Resources Thelma Meneses said they “respect DOLE Region 3’s ruling regarding AsiaPro.”
She added: “As reiterated by (Undersecretary) Joel Maglungsod, the regional level’s decision is not final and executory. We will invoke our right to appeal at the Office of the Secretary of Labor.”
DoLE Secretary Silvestre H. Bello III said when sought for comment Thursday, “(It) is true that it isn’t final because that is ‘appealable’ for us.”
He added that, as Labor Secretary, he is the one who “decides whether to affirm or revert the decision (by DoLE Region 3).”
DoLE had earlier ordered AsiaPro “to cease and desist from further engaging in contracting activities.”
Regarding contractor B-Mirk Multi-Purpose Cooperative, Ms. Meneses said, “We welcome DoLE Region 3’s ruling about B-Mirk’s striking employees who are still barricading our gates in Marilao on (their) 31st day.”
“It has indeed been established that both NutriAsia and B-Mirk are not engaged in labor-only contracting practices,” added the spokesperson for the company behind popular brands Datu Puti, Golden Fiesta, Mang Tomas, and UFC, among others.
NutriAsia has updated its Web site on DoLE Region 3’s ruling, saying, “We welcome the ruling of DOLE Region 3 which confirms that the striking workers are legitimate employees of the B-MIRK group.”
“In light of this ruling we choose to be compassionate and will work hard to bring this labor dispute to a peaceful resolution,” the company also said. — Gillian M. Cortez

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