Dole to check on regularization of workers at McDonald’s, KFC

In light of its order to Jollibee Foods Corp. (JFC) to regularize more than 6,000 workers, the Department of Labor and Employment (Dole) on Wednesday said it would soon also check on McDonald’s and Kentucky Fried Chicken.

The agency said it has set schedules to check on the two fast food companies to ensure their compliance with labor laws.

“The labor department has set schedules for establishment inspection on McDonald’s and KFC restaurants to ensure their compliance with labor laws,” Dole said in a statement.

In response, McDonald’s Philippines issued a statement assuring that it did not practice contractualization in any of its restaurants since it opened in the country in 1981.

“Last February 2017, McDonald’s restaurants of Golden Arches Development Corp. were awarded with a certificate of compliance for both general labor standards and occupational safety and health standards by the Dole,” said Adi Timbol-Hernandez, public relations and communications senior manager of McDonald’s Philippines.

“Since McDonald’s opened its first restaurant in the Philippines in 1981, we did not practice contractualization and for our restaurants, we have always adopted a direct hiring policy,” she said.

As of this posting, INQUIRER.net is still trying to reach KFC Philippines for comment.

READ: DOLE orders Jollibee to regularize about 6,500 workers

Dole had ordered JFC to regularize nearly 6,500 of its workers. In addition, the agency said it also ordered Burger King to regularize 704 workers.

The agency also directed the JFC to refund “illegally collected payments to 426 affected workers in the amount of P15,432,305.00 for Coop Share, Coop Christmas Party Paluwagan Fund, and Coop Savings Fund.”

Dole also ordered five of JFC’s contractors to return “unlawful wage deductions, bonds, donations, shares and other illegal payment collections to 412 affected workers with a total amount of P4,137,158.15.” /atm