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Philippines House delegation pleased to see happy Filipino workers at I-Mei

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Philippines House delegation pleased to see happy Filipino workers at I-Mei

A Philippines House of Representatives delegation visited compatriot workers at I-Mei Foods Company’s Nankan plant in Taoyuan City on Tuesday afternoon and was pleased to find that their country people are all very happy working for Taiwan’s leading food company and biggest bread provider.

The delegation led by Rose Marie “Baby” Arenas, the House's Inter-Parliamentary Relations and Diplomacy Committee chairperson, was welcomed by the singing and dancing of about 30 of I-Mei’s Filipino employees and the company’s representative, Peter Kao.

Philippines House delegation pleased to see happy Filipino workers at I-Mei

I-Mei's Filipino workers perform to welcome the delegation

Kao told Arenas that I-Mei’s Filipino colleagues have done tremendous jobs for the company, which first hired 50 workers from the Philippines back in 1993, but now the company employs 531 from the southern neighbor, or about one sixth of the company’s total staff. Kao praised them for their quality job performances and contribution to the company.

To thank those who came to welcome and perform for the delegation, I-Mei and Arenas jointly gave each of them an red envelop, and additionally they held a lucky money drawing to draw about 20 lucky people from 531 Filipino employees by worker's number, and each of them will receive a generous red envelop the next day.

Arenas, who has been very concerned about working conditions of her compatriots overseas, asked her country people at I-Mei if they like to work for the company, to which all of them answered with a resounding “yes,” which she said made her feel comforted.

In an interview with the Taiwan News, Erriz L. Mendoza, who has worked at I-Mei’s dairy products department for one year, said he would like to work for the company for as long as the law allows, which is 12 years.

He said the company provides nice places for them to stay and delicious meals, adding that he likes to work at a place where there are many Filipinos because they are multitasking, put out quality work and always put a smile on their faces.

Philippines House delegation pleased to see happy Filipino workers at I-Mei

Erriz L. Mendoza (right) and his fellow compatriot workers

Interviewed by the Taiwan News, Franklin Nazarro, who has worked at I-Mei’s bakery department as a machine operator for four years, said this is the second time he has worked for the company and would like to keep coming back if his supervisors like him.

He said one of the reasons why he likes to work for I-Mei is because his work is related to his major, Hotel and Restaurant Management (HRM). He added that he can learn how to make good bread and how to apply proper hygiene into the production process, which is helpful to his future. He also said he likes the company because it is like one big happy family of overseas Filipinos workers.

Philippines House delegation pleased to see happy Filipino workers at I-Mei

Franklin Nazarro (right) and his fellow compatriot workers


Noting Filipinos are hard working people, Arenas said she could see I-Mei treats them very well. She told Kao she thanked the company for providing such a good place to work and for helping her country people by employing them.

Philippines House delegation pleased to see happy Filipino workers at I-Mei

Rose Marie “Baby” Arenas sings "The moon represents my heart" with the saxophone music from a street artist stationed at I-Mei's visitors' quarters

The delegation also visited I-Mei’s museum, bread factory and food laboratories before heading back to Taipei in the evening.

The delegation's visit to I-Mei came after the visit of former Philippine President Fidel Ramos in April, who led a delegation of business people from the Philippines.