The Department of Labor and Employment on Wednesday committed to investigate the retrenching of teachers in schools, including fast-tracking an investigation into the layoff of teachers at Miriam College.
DOLE Secretary Silvestre Bello III particularly promised to fast-track the cases of two teachers supposedly retrenched from Miriam College due to the K to 12 program.
Both teachers filed cases of illegal dismissal and denial of wages against Miriam College, ACT party list said.
Bello said he will ask the labor arbiters handling the cases to act on these cases as fast as possible.
Also, Bello committed to check on several schools that laid off teachers through questionable claims of financial losses due to K to 12.
This includes the schools’ compliance with labor laws on salaries and benefits, security of tenure, and contractual employment.
He added the DOLE will invite schools concerned to explain to check on whether they had valid grounds for retrenchment.
Bello made the commitment following a dialogue Alliance of Concerned Teachers Rep. Antonio Tinio at the DOLE office in Manila.
Present were representatives of faculty and staff of various colleges and universities who raised concerns on the implications of the K to 12 program on teachers.
The former teachers included those from Miriam College, San Sebastian College-Recoletos, San Beda College-Manila, and St. Scholastica’s College, who were retrenched for alleged “projected losses” and “viability and long-term sustainability.”
Other participants also informed Bello of the experiences of other faculty of University of Santo Tomas, Saint Louis University and other HEIs in Cordillera.
Meanwhile, Bello committed to streamline the process for its Adjustment Measures Program (AMP), the P500-million fund intended for the financial support, employment facilitation, and training and livelihood of teachers and non-teaching staff in higher education institutions (HEIs) displaced by K to 12.
