Some 500 workers of Dole Philippines Inc., a fruit processing firm in Polomolok, South Cotabato, have lost their jobs. The company implemented a retrenchment program due to the economic recession brought about by the pandemic.

According to Jeremiah Mari Diana, the company’s corporate communications supervisor, Dole Philippines Inc started the retrenchment program last September 18 in a bid to sustain the operations of the company in the face of economic slump caused by the pandemic.

based on its company profile, Dole Philippines Inc had 30,000 workers under its employ as of 2018. Diana said the company implemented the retrenchment in scheme in accordance with labor laws wherin the workers were given notice of their termination a month before. He said the dismissed workers were also given livelihood programs as part of the retrenchment package.

As reported on mb.com.ph¸ most of the dismissed workers were assigned in the production and operation departments.