PAL’s service providers urged to file for DOLE accreditation

Business Mirror
September 16-17, 2011
By Sara Susanne D. Fabunan

The service providers of Philippine Airlines (PAL) are welcome to file their respective certificates of registration before the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) to avoid legal complications as they take over the airline’s three outsourced departments on October 1.

DOLE National Capital Region Director Raymundo Agravante said SkyKitchen Philippines Inc., SkyLogistics Philippines Inc. and SPi Global—the three service providers chosen by PAL—can file their accreditation with the DOLE “anytime.”

Requirements include a duly accomplished and notarized form, certified true copy of certificates of registration with the Securities and Exchange Commission, Department of Trade and Industry, local business permits and other supporting documents. Registration fee is P100.

“Processing normally takes only 24 hours. If they file today, they will be accredited the next day as long as they meet all requirements,” Agravante said.

On September 7 Agravante issued a certification—on the request of the PAL Employees Association (Palea)—attesting that PAL’s three service providers are not registered with DOLE as service contractors in accordance with DOLE Department Order 18-02.

A similar certification was requested by Palea from DOLE Cebu on September 12. Agravante stressed nothing is preventing PAL’s service providers from filing the applications for DOLE accreditation.

The statement douses cold water on Palea’s claim that PAL’s service providers are “bogus, labor-only” contracting firms due to alleged lack of DOLE accreditation. It turns out, however, that these firms can file their applications anytime, as the DOLE said.

Earlier, Agravante created a Quick Response Team to help PAL and the more than 2,000 workers who will be displaced by the flag carrier’s outsourcing program.

He said his office received a copy of PAL’s notice of termination that the airline sent to its 2,164 Metro Manila-based workers on August 26. Similar separation letters were sent to DOLE Cebu for its workers based in the area.

Agravante said the Quick Response Team was created to facilitate and help ensure “the payment of monetary benefits and to provide package of assistance to would-be displaced workers.”