Staff reporter
LAOAG CITY—Regardless of any
financial losses, the management of 88 Green, a private firm which took over
the management of the government-owned Plaza Del Norte (PDN) has to pay what is
due to its employees.
Rolando Lawas, PDN resident
manager, formerly known as the Ilocos Norte Hotel and Convention Center has
assured the monetary claims regarding their employees’ share of the 10
percent service charge being collected by the Ayuyang Cafe to its customers
have to be settled accordingly.
Responding to the May 11
privilege speech delivered by Sangguniang Panlalawigan member Vicentito “Toto”
M. Lazo, a committee hearing was conducted at the Capitol Session Hall to
thresh out the issue between 88 Green and its 90 employees.
The issue stemmed from the
collection of 10 percent service charge being collected by the management yet
the corresponding amount supposedly given to its employees in cash is given in
kind, prompting several employees to complain about it.
Under the Labor Code of the
Philippines, service charge is shared by the employer and employees.
Specifically, 85 percent of the total amount goes to employees and 15 percent
to the management.
However, instead of giving
the amount in cash to employees, 88 Green has compelled its employees to avail
the services of the PDN which will be automatically deducted to the accumulated
service charge due to each employee.
Mr. Lazo reiterated the
practice of 88 Green is “illegal” citing the labor code clearly states that
benefits due to employees must be in the form of cash.
Following the conduct of
committee hearing presided by SP member Joel Garcia along with Mr. Lazo, the
local management of 88 Green requested that they be given at least 15 days to
resolve the problem while a joint assessment report of the management and the
Department of Labor and Employment will also be conducted to check on the labor
law compliance of the hotel and convention center.
“The top management has
instructed finance to come up with the realistic schedule of giving the service
charge that was not availed yet,” Mr. Lawas said.
He also added the service
charge will stay to benefit more of its employees.
“We have a new executive chef
which has an international experience so I have high hopes in the next days to
come,” he added.
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