Firm owner: 24 welders treated well in Poland
By Carine M. Asutilla
Cebu Daily News
First Posted 11:03:00 08/08/2008
THE firm, who sent 24 Danao City welders to Poland, is not an employment agency, a company lawyer said.
The welders were sent to Poland to improve their skills, according to lawyer Rey Echavez, who spoke on behalf of his client May Rhea Villafuente.
Echavez said that the 24 employees were probationary employees of Villafuente's firm and were accepted after they declared that they had a year of experience in MIG welding.
The welders were sent to Poland for a year of skills development training with business visas.
“Villafuente spent for all the travel expenses of its employees including documentation and their insurance,” said Echavez.
Echavez said the 18 welders terminated their contract with Villafuente after they were given a memo from the boat firm where they were being trained that their performance was below par.
Echavez said that during the progress of their skills development course, the workers produced low outputs, which the management blamed on the many absences of the workers.
They were then issued a memo about their low performance.
Echavez said that instead of taking the memo positively and work harder to improve their outputs, the 18 welders instead decided to come home.
The lawyer denied claims of the maltreatment of the welders in Poland.
He said the welders were given food allowances and provided with a van to bring them to the workplace.
They were also issued complete working gears and equipment, he added.
Echavez said welders earned 400 Euros a month while their families in the Philippines got P12,000 monthly.
Echavez said Villafuente was in touch with the Philippine Ambassador to Hungary who confirmed that the welders had no problems in terms of meals and accommodations.
Echavez said the welders will arrive in Cebu separately for two weeks.
He said most of the flights are fully booked because this is a holiday season in Poland.
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