By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

Around 400 farmers from the National Federation of Sugarcane Workers (NFSW) conducted a dialogue with Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) officials yesterday morning.

NFSW chairman Rolando Rillo said, during the dialogue, they conveyed several of their demands, including the clearing of labor cases that have been pending for many years.

He said they also requested a social amelioration fund for sugar workers, an entitlement intended to improve the welfare of workers; along with mandating big sugar planters to provide fair wages and benefits for their workers.

Rillo pointed out, they also met with officials from the Social Security System (SSS) regarding pending cases of sugar workers and unremitted SSS contributions; as well as officials from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) over promised relief assistance for farmers affected by “tiempo muerto” last year./DGB, WDJ