Valenzuela City suspends permit of factory that paid worker in centavo coins

Valenzuela City Mayor Rex Gatchalian on Wednesday ordered the suspension of the business permit of the company that paid the salary of a worker in centavo coins.

"Whether kung sabihing aksidente or hindi, ako sa personal kong pananaw hindi siya aksidente [Regardless if this was an accident or not, personally I don't see it as an accident]," Gatchalian told Jasper So, owner of Nexgreen Enterprise, during a media conference.

"We were supposed to produce documents, but we're waiving that, they (Nexgreen Enterprise) are accepting all their mistakes, so they will be suspended officially by today," he added.

Gatchalian said the company was given 15 days to address all of the concerns of their employees, including Russel Mañoza, who received his salary in coins wrapped in adhesive tape.

"A failure to do so means revocation, but that doesn't preclude us from filing legal cases because a lot of labor laws were violated," Gatchalian said, partly in Filipino.

Based on the document Gatchalian posted on social media, the violations were related to the Labor Code, mayor’s permit, Civil Code, and non-coverage of Social Security System, PhilHealth and Pag-IBIG Fund.

A checker's mistake

So, meanwhile, admitted the lapses committed by his company, but said the coins were not intended for Mañoza but for religious offerings.

"Hindi naman intended sa kaniya. Kaya lang, kung nagkamali man ang checker [It was not intended for him, but if the checker committed a mistake] or what, command of responsibility, I accept," So said.

Gatchalian instructed the city's Workers' Affairs Office to conduct an audit to look into the alleged unfair labor practices committed by So's company.

The Workers' Affairs Office has also presented a computation of what Mañoza should receive, which is P55,614.93. Mañoza, however, received P1,056 in coins.

“Workers' Affairs Office represented the proposed computation of what Russel should receive from Nexgreen amounting to P55,614.93. Russel just received P1,056 in coins,” Gatchalian said. 

The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), meanwhile, ordered an inspection of Nexgreen Enterprise following Mañoza's complaint.

"The investigation will not only deal with the manner by which Mr. Mañoza was paid his wage... the inspectors will also look into the complaints of employees regarding unfair labor practice and non-payment of other benefits," DOLE Information and Publication Service Director Rolly Francia said in a forum on Wednesday afternoon. 

Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III said DOLE will determine if there is truth to Mañoza's claim that his salary was intentionally given in coins because his employer resented his complaints about unfair labor practices in the workplace.

"If that is true, then the company is in big trouble," Bello said in a statement. 

Bello said in giving salary in coins, the company could have also violated the Bangko Sentral Pilipinas (BSP) regulations, which impose a limit in using coins as legal tender.  —with Joviland Rita/KBK, GMA News