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Article

12 May 2017

Author:
KILOS NA Manggagawa (Philippines)

Philippines: Civil claims on-going 2 years after Kentex fire; NGO says policy reform too weak without employer support

“It was not…a small overlook in safety that lead 72 family members to die horrible deaths, but the working environment itself...Locked doors and grilled windows prevented their escape…[without] a single fire exit…Ammied Rada, the brother of two victims of the Kentex factory fire and…President of Justice for Kentex Workers…reflects on the dehumanization of the workers, where profits are…priority: “The workers are the ones producing the items for the companies…but I realized that for them machines are more important than their people.”  Kentex has offered compensation to…families in exchange for not filing charges.  Of course, money can never replace…any family member whose life has been taken away…[T]wo years [later]…civil court cases are ongoing…[A] bill on workplace safety is…set to criminalize Occupational Health and Safety violations.  If passed, it will be a step towards justice for workers with a hope of employers taking safety more seriously.  However, this policy will do nothing if employers are still in a position of power to threaten…[workers]…livelihood[s] for speaking out.  The House Technology Industries…factory fire…proves this fact.  Hundreds of workers are still unaccounted for with current workers and community members terrified to share their experiences for fear of losing their jobs.”