Roque wants DOLE 'one-stop shop' for retrenched ABS-CBN workers

Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque on Thursday said he would suggest to the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) to set up a "one-stop shop" for ABS-CBN employees that will be retrenched after the denial of the network's franchise.

In a television interview, Roque said he will ask DOLE Secretary Silvestre Bello III to facilitate the setting up of the shop so that affected workers will not have to go to different government agencies to receive assistance.

“Siguro ang gagawin ko is kokontakin ko si Secretary Bello and I will encourage him to open a one-stop shop siguro doon sa ABS-CBN to assist those who will be  retrenched,” he told CNN Philippines.

Like other workers affected by the COVID-19 crisis, Roque said ABS-CBN employees are qualified for assistance from different government agencies.

Roque later said Bello agreed to the proposal. The Palace official said the one-stop shop will benefit all job seekers in the National Capital Region.

“Tinawagan ko na po si Secretary Bello, magkakaroon po siya ng one-stop shop center para po sa NCR at para po sa ABS-CBN para makapag-apply din po ang mga mare-retrench na empleyado ng ABS-CBN. Magkakaroon din po siya ng job referral system. Baka magkaroon din po ng parang job fair,” he said in a televised briefing.

“Lahat po iyan ay kinumpirma po ni Secretary Bello. Pero siyempre po ito ay para bigyan ng pagkakataon iyong mawawalan ng trabaho sa ABS-CBN, but it would be open to everyone, hindi lang po sa ABS-CBN.”

On Wednesday, ABS-CBN announced it will start downscaling its operations and laying off workers by the end of August, following the congressional decision to reject its franchise bid.

In a statement, the network said the retrenchment program will start on August 31, 2020. It said some 11,000 employees will be affected by the franchise denial.

The announcement comes amid a record-high unemployment rate in the Philippines, and the coronavirus pandemic with the number of infections still on the rise in the country.

"As much as it hurts us to implement this retrenchment program, this is the only way to ensure the continued employment of the rest of our Kapamilya," ABS-CBN said.

"For those who are affected, we pray for you and your families, that you may have the strength and guidance to deal with the challenges ahead.  For all that you have done for ABS-CBN, maraming salamat po," it added.

The House Committee on Legislative Franchises last Friday voted 70-11 to deny ABS-CBN's franchise application.

The panel adopted the Technical Working Group’s (TWG) Committee Resolution recommending the denial of the network's franchise application.

Based on the TWG report, ABS-CBN violated its old franchise, described by the panel as a privilege, because of the following reasons: its former Chairman Eugenio Lopez III was both a Filipino and American citizen, the issuance of Philippine Depositary Receipts supposedly favoring foreigners, inappropriate program content, meddling in politics, tax avoidance schemes; less than exemplary labor practices, among others. 

ABS-CBN said it was "deeply hurt" by the panel's decision.  — with Virgil Lopez/KBK, GMA News