Ninety-three construction workers hired by a sub-contracting firm to work for a subdivision being developed by Vista Land Inc. owned by former Senator Manny Villar, staged a picket at the compound of the Department of Labor and Employment yesterday, claiming they were illegally terminated.

The construction workers are seeking help from the agency because they believe they were terminated when they filed labor cases against Masters Inc., the firm that hired them, Ricky Diega, Regional Coordinator of General Employees against Contractualization, said.

Joery Cocoba, one of the workers, said they were complaining about underpayment, non-payment of overtime and their five days service incentive leave pay, holiday pay and non-enrollment with the Social Security System, PhilHealth and PAG-IBIG fund.

Cocoba said DOLE arranged for a meeting between them and the management of Masters Inc. on July 3 to settle the issue, however, when they returned to work the following day, the security guards barred them from entering .

He added that they were asked to sign some documents and they refused.

DOLE Assistant Regional Director Cyril Ticao said during the meeting on July 3, that Masters Inc., represented by one of its engineers, Randy Badayos, assured that he will take the issue up the management on Friday and scheduled the next conference also on Friday.

However, Ticao said they went to the subdivision yesterday but Badayos and the other engineers were not around.

Meanwhile, Kilusang Mayo Uno Regional Coordinator Ian Evidente appealed to former Senator Villar yesterday to help reinstate the terminated construction workers.

The DAILY STAR tried to contact one of the engineers of Masters Inc through the number given by one of the complainants, but no one answered the calls.

The management of Camella Homes, meanwhile, has not issued a statement on the matter and an employee who answered a DAILY STAR call to it said they will refer the issue to management.*APN

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