abusesaffiliationarrow-downarrow-leftarrow-rightarrow-upattack-typeburgerchevron-downchevron-leftchevron-rightchevron-upClock iconclosedeletedevelopment-povertydiscriminationdollardownloademailenvironmentexternal-linkfacebookfiltergenderglobegroupshealthC4067174-3DD9-4B9E-AD64-284FDAAE6338@1xinformation-outlineinformationinstagraminvestment-trade-globalisationissueslabourlanguagesShapeCombined Shapeline, chart, up, arrow, graphLinkedInlocationmap-pinminusnewsorganisationotheroverviewpluspreviewArtboard 185profilerefreshIconnewssearchsecurityPathStock downStock steadyStock uptagticktooltiptwitteruniversalityweb
Article

21 May 2015

Author:
Katerina Francisco, Rappler

Valenzuela mayor says monetary compensation offered by Kentex is negigible

See all tags

"Kentex offers fire victims 'negligible' compensation", 15 May 2015

Valenzuela City mayor Rex Gatchalian hit the monetary compensation offered by a footwear company to the relatives of the 72 workers killed...He said the amount was "negligible" compared to the suffering the families went through...[T]he factory's lawyer told survivors and families of the victims that they would be given money – the due salary on the 15th of the month plus a few days' work and overtime..."just to tide them over." But Gatchalian said he was "extremely disappointed" with the compensation offer, adding that the amount was "negligible compared to what the families lost and went through...This goes to show what type of employer Kentex is and how they treat their employees."...Earlier, both the local city fire bureau and the labor department said Kentex Manufacturing Corporation had passed fire safety inspections and occupational safety checks...The workers, who produced cheap sandals and slippers for the domestic market, were paid well below the minimum wage of P481 ($10.90) a day and were denied a host of legally mandated benefits, survivors of the blaze and victims' relatives...[said] According to other media reports, workers were paid only P202 a day. In a meeting with the families of the victims, Kentex lawyer Renato Paraiso asked for patience in the disbursement of other benefits due to the families under the law. Paraiso explained that the company's administrative and accounting employees also died in the fire, and the company's records destroyed.

Timeline