14 April 2020

Red flags are still waving high as hundreds of banana workers remained on strike against the giant Japanese banana firm for its unfair labor practices and the company's push for government's immediate intervention on different attacks against the striking workers.

The Sumifru Philippines Corporation (Sumifru), a Japanese multinational company (JMNC) is engaged in the sourcing, production, shipment, and marketing of various fresh fruits, primarily on the export of quality Cavendish bananas, pineapple, and papaya. The company operates more than 12,000 hectares of plantations in Mindanao.

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On October 1 last year, workers who are members of the union Nagkahiusang Mamumuo sa Suyapa Farm (NAMASUFA-NAFLU-KMU) decided to stop their operations and installed makeshift barricades in seven SUMIFRU Packing Plants [...].

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Of the total number of 931 workers who are union members, 540 of them are women.

Many of the union members are workers of Sumifru for more than a decade but remained contractual despite recent pronouncement of President Rodrigo Duterte to end contractualization in the country.

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In an interview with the workers, the majority of them said that Sumifru and its partner service providers rarely provide personal protective equipment or PPE's despite their direct exposure to various chemicals needed for banana production.
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Namasufa has never been unfazed and unshaken by the "numerous threat and harassment" they have experienced over the years of struggle for their rights.

Authorities tagged many of their leaders and members as members of the New People's Army (NPA) and subjected to "forced surrender" activity staged by the AFP.

[...]