Washington, DC – On Thursday, May 13th, a massive fire broke out in the Kentex Manufacturing Factory in the Manila suburb of Valenzuela City, Philippines where 72 workers were killed. The fire erupted in the lower level of the footwear factory as a result of an explosion from a welder’s torch and shoe making chemicals. Workers frantically ran upstairs to escape the blaze but were trapped upstairs, leading to their disastrous deaths.
The tragic death of the Kentex Shoe Factory workers exemplifies the need for companies to provide safe working conditions for all workers around the world. The lack of fire safety equipment, the bars that surrounded the windows and the flammable materials throughout the factory were part of the dangerous working conditions. "From nail salon workers to those killed in the Kentex Factory in the Philippines, we need safer workplaces for ALL, in the U.S. and worldwide.” said Gregory Cendana, APALA National Executive Director. Cendana also participated in a labor delegation to Bangladesh last year to hear from Rana Plaza Factory collapse survivors, their families and other factory workers where unsafe work environments are common.
The Philippine Department of Labor and Employment Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz indicated that only 60% of businesses across the Philippines comply with government labor safety and health standards in 2014. “Profit driven companies and employers in third world countries like the Philippines often exploit workers by paying low wages while having unsafe working conditions,” said Johanna Puno Hester, APALA National President. “We stand with workers across the world in demanding safe working conditions for all and #Justice4KentexWorkers.”
The tragic death of the Kentex Shoe Factory workers exemplifies the need for companies to provide safe working conditions for all workers around the world. The lack of fire safety equipment, the bars that surrounded the windows and the flammable materials throughout the factory were part of the dangerous working conditions. "From nail salon workers to those killed in the Kentex Factory in the Philippines, we need safer workplaces for ALL, in the U.S. and worldwide.” said Gregory Cendana, APALA National Executive Director. Cendana also participated in a labor delegation to Bangladesh last year to hear from Rana Plaza Factory collapse survivors, their families and other factory workers where unsafe work environments are common.
The Philippine Department of Labor and Employment Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz indicated that only 60% of businesses across the Philippines comply with government labor safety and health standards in 2014. “Profit driven companies and employers in third world countries like the Philippines often exploit workers by paying low wages while having unsafe working conditions,” said Johanna Puno Hester, APALA National President. “We stand with workers across the world in demanding safe working conditions for all and #Justice4KentexWorkers.”
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