Sulpicio Lines lays off 136 workers in Cebu - report

MANILA, Philippines - Nearly a month after government suspended its operations over the capsizing of the MV Princess of the Stars, Sulpicio Lines Inc. has laid off 136 of its workers in Cebu. DZBB Cebu reported Thursday that the management blamed the suspension for the layoffs, citing losses of some P1 million a day. The report said Sulpicio management voiced fears that the longer the suspension stays, more of its 10,000 employees may end up jobless. Local labor groups in Cebu joined the clamor for the Maritime Industry Authority (Marina) to lift the suspension on Sulpicio's operations. The shipping line’s operations were suspended last June immediately after the Princess of the Stars tragedy. The DZBB report said the groups are planning protests in Cebu to "force" Marina to lift the suspension. - GMANews.TV