Govt helps laid off workers in Baguio find new jobs

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippines has begun assisting the nearly 300 workers that were laid off by Moog Inc., a New York-headquartered company which runs a Baguio manufacturing facility. Moog Controls Corp., a subsidiary of Moog Inc. has been “very cooperative" in providing assistance to its 293 workers that will be laid off in July, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) said. Company management, together with the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA), has organized a three-day outplacement service, a move intended to help retrenched workers look for new jobs and secure assistance they need. Possible assistance includes job searches, both here and abroad, as well as livelihood skills and training for those who may want to establish their own businesses. “The firm joined the DOLE and PEZA in the conduct of outplacement services orientation for the covered workers that started last June 2 until June 4, 2009," Labor Secretary Marianito Roque said. Declining demand for the company’s products – including high precision control components and systems used in aerospace and industrial equipment, among others – has prompted its local unit to shed jobs. It used to employ 1,000 workers in the country. Meanwhile, the labor department’s regional office in the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) has failed to confirm whether displaced workers will get their jobs back if the situation improves. Workforce reduction “is history," Roque said. “Some companies are re-hiring their workers now." As of March 15 this year, more than 100,000 workers have either been laid off or had their schedules reduced because of the global crisis. - GMANews.TV