24 August 2005 – The Philippine Embassy in Myanmar reported to the Department of Foreign Affairs that they assisted Filipino garment workers in Yangon for the payment of unauthorized salary deductions following representations made with the management of the Japanese firm that hired the OFWs.

Philippine Ambassador to Myanmar Phoebe A. Gomez said that the Filipino garment workers employed by Asian Just Co., a subsidiary of Kyowa Enterprise Co., Ltd. of Japan, sought the help of the Embassy in late July 2005, complaining that they have been unjustly terminated and that US$200 had been deducted by the company from the salaries.

Ambassador Gomez immediately dispatched Consul Pablito A. Mendoza to visit the factory and speak with a representative of the company, Chief Technician Totsumo Okada, who happens to be the only Japanese representing the company at the work site.

According to the report, Mr. Okada told Consul Mendoza that the services of the OFWs were terminated because the company was “not satisfied with their work and the quality of their production.”  Consul Mendoza negotiated with the company official for the reinstatement of the Filipinos but could not do so successfully since all but three of the 11 OFWs have gone back to the Philippines.

Regarding the unjust salary deduction, Mr. Okada informed Consul Mendoza that he was not aware of such a deduction and promised to coordinate with the head office in Japan on request of the Philippine Embassy for Kyowa Enterprise to clarify the matter and pay back the deducted amount to the Filipinos.

Ambassador Gomez reported that on 12 August Mr. Okada informed the Philippine Embassy that company officials have ordered the return of the deductions to the OFWs as it was found out that the amounts were erroneously debited by their new accountant.  Mr. Isao Nakamura, Director of the Kyowa Enterprise accordingly promised to transfer as soon as possible the amount of the deductions directly to the Filipinos’ bank accounts in the Philippines.

According to Ambassador Gomez, the Embassy was able to inform the 11 Filipinos both in the Philippines and Myanmar of the successful intervention made by the Embassy on their behalf.  END