Palace backs DoLE ruling on layoff of 2,000 PAL men

By GENALYN D. KABILING
November 2, 2010, 7:38pm
Manila Bulletin

MANILA, Philippines — Malacañang on Tuesday backed the ruling of the Department of Labor and Employment (DoLE) on the layoff of more than 2,000 Philippine Airlines (PAL) employees, saying it was a fair decision based on facts and evidence.

Deputy Presidential Spokeswoman Abigail Valte, however, said the protesting airline workers could still exhaust other legal remedies to get what is due them.

“There are legal ways of redress. From what I understand, they can file a motion for reconsideration and then eventually, they can appeal the decision of the Department of Labor and Employment,” Valte told reporters in the Palace.

“As of the moment, we advised them to avail of the remedies available to them under the law,” she added, as the disgruntled employees staged a protest action in Mendiola, Manila.

But Valte maintained that they have no qualms about labor department’s decision on the 2,600 workers of the flag carrier which was based on the facts and evidence.

The DoLE has upheld the airline's plan to outsource some of its services, which would result in the retrenchment of some 2,600 employees. The employees reportedly plan to launch more protests and question the DoLE's decision in the court.

“We have no problem as long as the decision is based in law and is rendered on the basis of the facts as pleaded,” Valte said.

Asked if the DoLE decision on the layoff of some PAL workers was fair, she said: “You have to balance the interests also so at that point, as long as it is based in law, that’s okay with us.”