Pepmaco Manufacturing Corporation (Pepmaco for brevity) is a domestic corporation engaged in the manufacture of surfactants. It operates a manufacturing plant located at Airstrip St., Silangan Industrial Park, Canlubang, Calamba, Laguna.

Workers at the said plant are classified into 2 categories, the regular directly hired employees and those under legitimate, duly registered, independent contractors. A number of these individuals engaged by the said contractors however, believe that they should be considered regular employees of Pepmaco and claim certain benefits which are not due to them. Earlier this year, they formed their own local union, Pepmaco Workers Union (PWU) under the National Federation of Labor Unions-Kilusang Mayo Uno (NAFLU-KMU). In an attempt to compel Pepmaco to give in to their demands, the PWU members were suspected of sabotaging company equipment and production in a number of incidents resulting to damage in property, such as the deliberate shutting down of machinery and equipment to cause underproduction and damage to the detergent bars, and the deliberate and malicious insertion of foreign materials into the machinery to cause breakdowns, necessitating expensive and costly repair work.

In a routine inspection relating to the above matter, the Regional Director of the Department of Labor (DOLE) Region IV-A issued an Order dated May 14, 2019, finding that Pepmaco and its contractors do not engage in labor-only contracting and are compliant with labor standards and the mandated safety conditions in the workplace.

Penultimately, Pepmaco ensures that it will continue to conduct its business with the highest level of integrity and conduct as well as with utmost regard to the protection of its employees and in full compliance with the requirements of the law.