Workers of ABS-CBN who will be affected by the failure of the network’s franchise bid should receive compensation from the company, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) said on Tuesday.
“[S]hould termination, reduction or displacement of workforce becomes unavoidable, the first thing that ABS-CBN should do is compensate the employees because it is legally bound to pay separation benefits to those who will be retrenched or terminated,” Labor Undersecretary Ana Dione said in a statement.
The House Committee on Legislative Franchises, in a 70-11 vote, rejected ABS-CBN’s bid for a new 25-year franchise after its original franchise expired on May 4.
“The verdict may be unfortunate for that would mean imminent job loss for a significant number of employees of one of the largest media enterprises in the country. But the workers are not helpless,” Dione said.
DOLE will also be ready to “extend necessary assistance” to the workers.
The labor department has yet to announce if it would give doles to ABS-CBN’s displaced employees.
The ABS-CBN shutdown will affect some 11,000 workers. John Ezekiel J. Hirro