Crowded confusion at the AFAB gates. Photo courtesy of Emily Fajardo
MARIVELES, Bataan — The Alyansa ng mga Manggagawa sa Bataan (AMBA-BALA) on Monday decried the alleged lack of proper communication from the Authority of the Freeport Area of Bataan (AFAB) that resulted in the confusion and the crowding of workers on the gates of the freeport here in the first day of implementation of the modified enhanced community quarantine.
Emily Fajardo, secretary of the group also known as Bataan Alliance of Labor Associations, said: “Ayon na rin sa inaasahan, dumagsa ang libo-libong manggagawa na umaasang magbabalik-trabaho subalit hindi inaasahan na sa halip makapagtrabaho, maraming manggagawa ang hindi pinapasok, naghintay at natengga sa labas ng gate ng AFAB.”
The labor group claimed that the approved lists of workers and the worker’s AFAB passes were known only later but not after the crowding and confusion at the gates.
“Magulo, ura-urada at ang kawalan ng kaayusang proseso ang tumambad sa mga manggagawa sa labas ng gate ng AFAB na nagsimulang dumami simula alas-6 hanggang alas-8 ng umaga ngayong araw,” Fajardo said.
She said that those in the lists were able to report for work but after many hours of waiting. Those not in the lists could do nothing but to go home.
The labor group led by AMBA-BALA president Elpidio Avellanoza said AFAB seemed to have not learned from the situation when ECQ was declared in 2020.
“Masaklap ang bunga nito, ang mga manggagawa ay bulto-bultong naghintay sa labas ng gate nang wala nang pag-aalala sa bantang dulot ng Covid-19. Sino ang may pananagutan kaugnay nito?,” they said.
The organization said the return of 50 percent of the total number of workers or 20,242 from 40,485 was expected by AFAB based on its memorandum circular with the change of status of Bataan from ECQ to MECQ.
“Masaklap dahil lagi na lamang ang mga kawawang manggagawa ang nalalagay sa sitwasyong mapanganib sa banta ng Covid-19 at nagsasakripisyo bunga ng hindi episyenteng pagpapatupad ng mga patakaran na magtitiyak sa kaligtasan sa pagbabalik-trabaho,” they said.
They demanded that measures for the safe return to work places be instituted and give priority to the interest of workers.
“Hindi pa nga naiibsan ang krisis na dinaranas sa kagutuman bunga ng kawalan ng hanapbuhay, dagdag pa ang kalusugan na nailalagay sa panganib dahil sa kawalan ng maayos na sistemang tungkulin na dapat sanang ipatupad ng mga namamahala sa AFAB at ng mga kumpanya,” the group said.
AMBA–BALA also asked for priority in the vaccination of workers and to speed-up the processing of government’s Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation program for workers.
