"Police slammed for 'violent dispersal' of NutriAsia contractual workers," 16 June 2018

Militant groups and a number of netizens condemned what they claimed as police "violent dispersal" of agency workers who were on strike at a NutriAsia factory, but the Bulacan provincial police denied the allegations... 

...The workers were on strike for 12 days to protest alleged contractualization, low wages, and unhealthy working conditions. They also called for the reinstatement of dismissed union leaders.

ACT Teachers Partylist Rep. Antonio Tinio said only less than 10 percent of NutriAsia's 1,400 workers are regular employees. He said the company most known for its condiments taps contracting agencies for its manpower, production, logistics, sanitation, and security needs.

The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) in February said over 900 workers of NutriAsia should be regularized.

DOLE said the companies were engaged in labor-only contracting, commonly referred to as contractualization. It said DOLE's compliance workers also found some violations of Occupational Safety and Health Standards during their inspection. Other findings of the inspectors include violations of the general labor standards, such as underpayment of basic wages and other wage-related benefits.

NutriAsia, in a statement on Friday, asked the workers to continue their dialogue with their manpower service provider, B-Mirk Enterprises.

It added it respects the right of the workers to peaceful assembly, but it also asked workers to give other employees access to the NutriAsia facilities.