PLDT has insisted that it has indeed filed an appeal against an order from the Philippines' Department of Labor and Employment has ordered PLDT to give permanent positions to more than 7,000 workers instead of terminating them as intended.
The operator has been told to regularize 7,306 workers and to give around 2,000 workers compensation totalling 51.6 million pesos ($966,210) in compensation, Rapplerreported. Local reports claim that the operator failed to file an appeal within the time limit, so the order has become final and binding.
The department also issued cease and desist orders to 38 contractors for engaging in labor-only contracting schemes, the report states.
According to the report, the department accused PLDT of skirting around the law and insulting the government for refusing to follow the order.
But in a statement, PLDT denied terminating any service contracts said the company and 23 of the 38 service contractors covered by the orders have indeed filed petitions with the Court of the Appeals challenging the legality and validity of the order.
The company said that following the order would not only displace the workers deployed by the contractors to PLDT but effectively shut down the contractors, displacing thousands of other workers assigned to other companies.