Labor center Kilusang Mayo Uno condemned the so-called “special separation program” being offered by Honda Cars Philippines Incorporated to its workers, saying it is a deceptive program only meant to bust the workers’ union.
Honda’s management started offering the so-called “special separation program” on August 15. The time frame for the offer was initially one month but was extended for 15 days more.
The “special separation program” aims to reduce the current total workforce of around 140-170 workers by 30%, by eliminating workers who have served the company for more than 10 years, in particular. The Honda management says a manpower re-structuring is necessary as a consequence of the one-model production of the car company.
According to Lakas ng Manggagawang Nagkakaisa sa Honda (LMNH), an affiliate of Olalia, a federation under the KMU, the “excess manpower” claim of the management is only an alibi to forcibly terminate workers in the guise of the “special separation program.” The union likened the program to an “icing” on a spoiled cake, in which big amounts are being offered to workers as separation pays.
Cost-cutting measures, union busting
“Honda’s ‘excess manpower’ claim is simply not true and cannot deceive the workers. The special separation program is just meant to retrench regular workers to weaken and bust the standing progressive and genuine workers’ union,” said Elmer Labog, KMU chairperson.
LMNH-OLALIA-KMU reported that despite Honda’s “excess manpower” claim, around 70 students under an on-the-job training (OJT) program of Dualtech school are directly participating in production and doing the work of regular employees.
They will be replaced by other new Dualtech OJT’s as soon as their 18-month contract with Honda expires. In exchange for their full-time work, they only receive P2,000 per month as allowance.
“Honda cannot disguise its greed for bigger profits by offering regular workers large separation pays. It is even using the slogan ‘corporate social responsibility’ to extract profits from very young students,” said Labog.
“Honda wants to weaken the union and implement its contractualization scheme and other cost-cutting measures. We are calling on Honda workers to fight this attempt by a big foreign capitalist to deceive and further exploit its workers,” said Labog. Elmer “Bong” Labog, KMU Chairperson
