By Emem Crisostomo and Pauline Alvarez

Norenda Nacinopa spent half of her life working for SLORD Development Corporation, the manufacturer of popular canned fish brand Uni-Pak. Not once did she receive any salary or benefit that meets the minimum wage.

The 54-year-old described her job as pakyawan. “Inoorasan kami, so parang ang gawa sa amin ay pakyawan na, hindi na arawan,” she said.

The workers are expected to meet a production quota of 16 cans of sardines a minute. Failing to do so will earn them a reprimand and a curse.

Moreover, they are required to do much more than their official job descriptions. “Katulad sa’kin, ako, hindi lang filler ang gawain ko. Ako’y isang batilyo, fishwasher, [at sa] storage ng isda,” Norenda added.

To top that, they must report to work at 7:30 a.m.—half an hour ahead of their designated shift—without additional pay. “May 30 minutes advance [na] walang bayad ‘yung ipinapasok namin sa umaga. Mag-i-in po kami nang 7:30, pero ang naka-in po sa amin talaga sa time card is 8:00 ng umaga. ‘Yung 30 minutes na ‘yun, walang bayad,” another employee said.

Other unfair labor practices documented include lack of afternoon meal breaks, implementation of evening meal breaks during overtime work, high temperature conditions resulting in collapse and even one death (hypertension), prohibition of timely rests, and hazardous processes that expose employees to steam and formalin.

Norenda remained contractual for the duration of her 27 years at SLORD, similar to the majority of her co-workers, mainly women, who have been serving for decades and contributing to the company’s big profits.

SLORD employs a 500-strong workforce, of which only 150 are under regular status, according to a 2018 House resolution filed by Makabayan bloc lawmakers.

Not about to sit back, SLORD workers began organizing themselves to collectively fight against the oppressive labor policies of their company.

In 2017, Samahan ng mga Manggagawa sa SLORD Development Corporation (SMSDC) was formed with Norenda as president. “Ang pagsisimula ng pag-oorganisa ko doon sa loob ay nakikita ko kasi, nararamdaman ko na talagang pahirap [nang] pahirap ang ginagawa sa amin ng management,” she said.

To find out what steps to take, the group reached out to the Department of Labor and Employment, which explained that the longtime employees should be recognized as regular workers since they worked extensively for SLORD.

The labor department encouraged them to fight for their rights. And so they did. The workers filed a case regarding their low wages, and although the case is still ongoing, they are hoping that the National Labor Relations Commission would rule in their favor.

Prior to these developments, however, the group experienced many setbacks.

In one instance, a member reported SMSDC to the management. The employee was promised a regular position in return for disclosing the members of the group. As expected, the company did not stay true to its word.

SLORD even released a blacklist to ensure that the unionized workers cannot apply to other companies. “Lahat ng tinanggal nila, ibinigay ang aming mga pangalan doon sa mga pabrika kaya walang nakakapasok sa amin [kahit saan]. May nakapasok man sa amin, ilang araw lang. [Noong] nalaman na galing pala sa SLORD, hindi na sila pinapasok,” Norenda said.

The attacks did not end with the company as organized employees soon faced state-backed aggressions. A tarpaulin accusing SLORD workers of being part of the New People’s Army was found just in front of their kubol. More evidently, police and military forces are deployed to disperse the workers’ picket lines.

Circumstances notwithstanding, the group still succeeded. The salary of SLORD workers now meets the daily minimum wage rate (non-agriculture) in Metro Manila of P537, with benefits like SSS, Pag-IBIG, PhilHealth, and maternity leave. To scale, employees earned only around P300 a day before they started organizing.

Unfortunately, Norenda and dozens of other co-workers like her who were laid off by the company, never got to taste the fruit of their labor. Yet they do not regret asserting their basic rights. “Kailangan talaga ipagpatuloy namin ang laban, hindi lang para sa amin, [pero] para din sa mga manggagawa na nandoon sa loob [ng kumpanya],” the labor leader said.

SMSDC persists, standing firm with their fight until SLORD gives them back their jobs. In the process, they also choose to stand in solidarity with laborers nationwide.

“At para sa mga nakapaligid na pagawaan na sana’y makita rin ng mga manggagawa kung papaano sila pinagsasamantalahan ng mga kapitalista,” Norenda said.

According to data from labor group Kilusang Mayo Uno, one in every two companies implemented layoffs, resulting in 9 in every 10 contractual workers losing their jobs during the pandemic. As of January 2021, there are around 3.9 million unemployed Filipino workers.

This is compounded by the administration of Pres. Rodrigo Duterte recording the lowest job creation post-Martial Law, according to research group IBON Foundation.

Working conditions in the country remain largely imbalanced in favor of business and against labor as the President’s term nears its end. In fact, after five years in office, Pres. Duterte has yet to fulfill his campaign promise of ending contractualization.

In his final State of the Nation Address on July 26, Pres. Duterte listed down 12 priority bills for the Congress to pass before he steps down in 2022. Ending labor contractualization was nowhere to be found in his speech.