Displaced workers of the Semirara Coal Mining Corporation (SCMC) will continue to receive their salaries amid the temporary work stoppage following last week's mine incident that left five workers dead, three injured and five still missing.

The management made the assurance before officials of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) who are currently in Caluya Island.

Around 500 workers were displaced and some of them will undergo training while others will be engaged in the company’s tree planting activities, a press dispatch from DOLE 6 disclosed.

Upon instruction of Labor Secretary Rosalinda D. Baldoz, regional director Ponciano Ligutom on Sunday sent a team to the island to conduct investigation of the accident, ascertain the company’s compliance with the general labor and occupational safety and health (OSH) standards, including child labor, family welfare program, engagement of contractors and sub-contractors’ services and compliance to other DOLE requirements, and also to provide technical assistance to the company.

The team composed of DOLE-Antique officer-in-charge Lorraine G. Villegas and Engr. Michael Gison also handed the cease and desist order of all operations at the mine although it has been stopped already by the company.

Meantime, in compliance with the collective bargaining agreement (CBA) between the Semirara Mining Corporation Labor Union and the company, the deceased union member will receive P3,000 in addition to the financial assistance to be extended by the company.

The also management said that they will provide families of deceased miners, aside from those stipulated in the CBA, an educational assistance for the college education of the children.

The inspectors learned that one of the fatalities, Abner Lim, was a regular employee and a union member while the rest of the fatalities, Joven Hocate, Georgie Bragat, Efren Equiza and Anthony Siblet were employees of DMC CERI, the sub-contractor.*PNA