MARIVELES, Bataan- Some 2,000 shoe workers at the Bataan Economic Zone here who feared losing their job starting the New Year have appealed to Manny Pacquiao to help them with Nike that the boxing icon serves as model and endorser.
In a letter, factory workers of SS Ventures International (SSV), a Korean company operating at the BEZ for 15 years, told the Pambansang Kamao that they are poised to lose their jobs when the New Year comes and helping them means support for their families.
“Kung ang Nike ay magpapagawa ng sapatos sa ating bansa, ito ay magbibigay ng bagong pag-asa sa buhay ng mahigit 2,000 manggagawa ng aming kumpanya at isang paraan upang kami’y mabuhay ng marangal,” they wrote.
They said that if Nike shoes are made in other countries like China, Vietnam and Indonesia, they see no reason why the company will not place its orders in the Philippines. They claimed that Filipinos were the first and the best shoe makers in Asia if not in the whole world.
“Mangyari po lamang sanang inyong hikayatin ang Nike na magbigay ng order sa aming kumpanya dahil hindi na ito binibigyan ng sapat na order ng kasalukuyang buyer,” they appealed to Pacquiao also known as the Pacman.
Janette Tamayo could not control her tears as she asked Pacman to help them with Nike. “Dito lamang po sa shoe factory na ito kami umaasa at hirap na hirap na po kami,” she said.
Nonoy Violeta, SSV product research and development head, showed vacant work areas inside the factory. Workers dramatized their plight by wearing red headbands and displaying placards that read “Adidas support us, give us orders.”
The workers asked Adidas to extend to at least one year its management contract with SSV and to give the Korean shoe firm enough orders until it finds a new buyer. The contract expires December 31.
“Ginutom kami ng Adidas sa order na mula sa capacity naming 160,000 pairs of shoes a month ay nag-order na lamang ng mula 14,000 – 20,000 pares kada buwan,” Danny de Guzman , president of SSV’s labor council said.
Violeta said with the reduction in orders of Adidas, more than half of the total workforce of 1,800 has been placed on work leave since May 2009 while those retained only work for an average of three days a week, most of the time on rotation basis.
De Guzman said that instead of placing enough orders, Adidas offered to workers gift check coupons to be exchanged for groceries. The so-called “humanitarian aid” reportedly will be coursed through a non-government organization.
“We are not beggars, what we need are jobs because we are skilled workers. Before the entry of Adidas in our company, we are the envy of other factory workers in the zone because we always have jobs to do but now we will be out of our work with no future after 15 years of working,” the workers told Adidas officials.
It was learned that SSV has already incurred big losses because of the reduction in orders by Adidas.
In a letter, factory workers of SS Ventures International (SSV), a Korean company operating at the BEZ for 15 years, told the Pambansang Kamao that they are poised to lose their jobs when the New Year comes and helping them means support for their families.
“Kung ang Nike ay magpapagawa ng sapatos sa ating bansa, ito ay magbibigay ng bagong pag-asa sa buhay ng mahigit 2,000 manggagawa ng aming kumpanya at isang paraan upang kami’y mabuhay ng marangal,” they wrote.
They said that if Nike shoes are made in other countries like China, Vietnam and Indonesia, they see no reason why the company will not place its orders in the Philippines. They claimed that Filipinos were the first and the best shoe makers in Asia if not in the whole world.
“Mangyari po lamang sanang inyong hikayatin ang Nike na magbigay ng order sa aming kumpanya dahil hindi na ito binibigyan ng sapat na order ng kasalukuyang buyer,” they appealed to Pacquiao also known as the Pacman.
Janette Tamayo could not control her tears as she asked Pacman to help them with Nike. “Dito lamang po sa shoe factory na ito kami umaasa at hirap na hirap na po kami,” she said.
Nonoy Violeta, SSV product research and development head, showed vacant work areas inside the factory. Workers dramatized their plight by wearing red headbands and displaying placards that read “Adidas support us, give us orders.”
The workers asked Adidas to extend to at least one year its management contract with SSV and to give the Korean shoe firm enough orders until it finds a new buyer. The contract expires December 31.
“Ginutom kami ng Adidas sa order na mula sa capacity naming 160,000 pairs of shoes a month ay nag-order na lamang ng mula 14,000 – 20,000 pares kada buwan,” Danny de Guzman , president of SSV’s labor council said.
Violeta said with the reduction in orders of Adidas, more than half of the total workforce of 1,800 has been placed on work leave since May 2009 while those retained only work for an average of three days a week, most of the time on rotation basis.
De Guzman said that instead of placing enough orders, Adidas offered to workers gift check coupons to be exchanged for groceries. The so-called “humanitarian aid” reportedly will be coursed through a non-government organization.
“We are not beggars, what we need are jobs because we are skilled workers. Before the entry of Adidas in our company, we are the envy of other factory workers in the zone because we always have jobs to do but now we will be out of our work with no future after 15 years of working,” the workers told Adidas officials.
It was learned that SSV has already incurred big losses because of the reduction in orders by Adidas.
