MANILA, January 9, 2015 – Franklin Baker Company of the Philippines prides itself as one of the largest Philippine producers of dessicated, processed and value added coconut products with its first dessicated coconut plant in the Philippines being inaugurated in Sta. Mesa, Manila in 1922. Presently, it has manufactirung sites located in San Pablo City, Laguna and two in Davao del Sur. As part of its commitment that goes beyond manufacturing high quality and safe coconut products, the company has a new facility in Davao to consolidate and enhance operational efficiencies in one single location and also to provide a more hygienic and improved quality control environment.
Long-time contractors of Franklin Baker Company were allowed to use this facility in accord with service agreements to provide better working environment to the contractors’ employess while providing better efficiency and better food safety quality control.
The Philippine Daily Inquirer, in its January 9, 2015 issue carried an article entitled “Firm blasted for keeping workers off regular status” that makes it appear that the Franklin Baker Company and its three raw coconut suppliers are “skirting labor laws”.
The Franklin Baker Company sets the record straight. It has long-time suppliers of pared fresh coconut meat (an ingredient for its products). These job contracting arrangements are covered with service agreements between Franklin Baker and the suppliers. These suppliers are legitimate job contractors who in turn have their own regular employees who perform work to enable these suppliers to provide the coconut meat to Franklin Baker Company.
Contrary to the news report, Franklin Baker Company did not hire any of the employees of these legitimate job contractors. They continue to work with their respective employers, suppliers of Franklin Baker Company. A few employees of these contractors may have been misled into thinking that they were hired by Franklin Baker Company when they performed their work at the new facility.
Franklin Baker Company entered into contracting arrangements with these suppliers which are expressly allowed by law. Franklin Baker Company, while aiming to provide its global customers with value-added, cost-effective and reliable supply of coconut ingredients, has always abide with regulations for the promotion of employment and observance of the rights of workers to just and humane conditions of work. It is a good corporate citizen providing livelihood and pursuing community development.
We treat our employees, suppliers, job contractors and their employeess with professionalism and respect.
(Signed) Jerry Lorenzo
President and CEO
Franklin Baker Group