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Television host Paolo Bediones‘ company is now facing controversy after its executive producers and staff complained that they did not receive any salary.
Bediones’ Ei2 Tech, Inc. was commissioned by the Department of Education (DepEd) to produce DepEd TV.
Several of its media workers organized a virtual press conference and aired their frustrations toward the company stating that they have yet to receive their salaries months after working for the project.
“Lumiham kami upang pormal at mariing hingin ang kagyat na paglabas ng buong suweldo ng lahat ng mga empleyado ng EI2 Tech, Inc. sa ilalim ng proyektong DepEd TV,” said an executive producer who used to produce materials used by DepEd TV in the first quarter of the current school year.
“Nobyembre 22, 2020 nang ibahagi ng pangasiwaan ng kompanya na humaharap ito sa isang suliraning pinansiyal. Kaugnay niyon ay nangako ito sa nabanggit ding pulong na maibibigay ang buong suweldo ng mga manggagawa nito sa Disyembre 15-18, 2020.”
They added that the salary has been reassured a day before the said date, however, they received no compensation. And instead of addressing their concerns, they claimed that Bediones “got mad” and “threatened” them that they would be sued for libel.
The producers and workers added that they were also working with younger talents in the project and the issue might make them think that the whole industry is bad.
DepEd explained their side and said that the partnership between the agency and Ei2 Tech was just voluntary at first but it was made official on December 29, 2020, when they gave the company a contract worth Php45.5 million to carry on the DepEd TV content.
In the second week of March, DepEd gave the company an initial payment of Php9 million.
Senator Sherwin Gatchalian then urged the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) to investigate.
Bediones has yet to comment on the issue as of writing.
