As SMC’s 66,000 workers get full pay, Ramon Ang says ‘don’t worry about your jobs’

MANILA, Philippines — Over 66,000 employees, consultants, and contract workers of the San Miguel Corp. will receive their salaries in full despite the work disruption caused by the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, the head of the sprawling business group said on Sunday.

Flexing its financial muscles, the chief of the country’s largest conglomerate also committed to settling all its obligations to the government on schedule — whether they be taxes, concession fees, or other contractual payments — despite the grace period extended by authorities to companies.

To this end, San Miguel president Ramon Ang said the company has allocated P11.67 billion in payments to the government, meant to aid fiscal authorities with what is expected to be a record spending program to keep the Philippine economy afloat.

The company said it has already paid the government P8.77 billion, while the balance will be remitted before the end of the enhanced community quarantine period.

On the home front, San Miguel has released full compensation with benefits amounting to over P3 billion for all its 66,557 employees, consultants, and contract workers.

“These are trying times and while we, as a company, are not immune to the challenges of this crisis, the safety and security of our workforce will always come first,” Ang said. “We do not want them worrying about their jobs.”

Addressing the conglomerate’s employees, Ang said he was “truly proud of the hard work that you, most especially our front liners, have been doing in the midst of the challenges: delivering essential goods and services that are critical in this battle.”

“Please continue to adopt our malasakit mindset and focus on what we, as individuals, can do to make a difference, because many are counting on us,” he said.

“We are also aware that we have a huge role to play across industries and we are lucky to be more equipped than the rest to navigate this crisis,” he added. “That said, we remain steadfast in our commitment to assist the government and continue providing assistance where it’s most needed.”

The San Miguel group has, so far, provided assistance of over P1 billion in the form of cash, food, flour, disinfectant alcohol, fuel, free toll, and personal protective equipment donations to vulnerable communities and front liners.

It has also built emergency quarantine facilities together with the Armed Forces of the Philippines to help ease the pressure on health facilities flooded by patients needing intensive medical treatment resulting from the pandemic.

/MUF