KABISIG WORKERS COOPERATIVE
KABISIG WORKERS COOPERATIVE
THE COMPANY
THE COMPANY
BRIEF HISTORY
BRIEF HISTORY
In recent years, cooperatives were organized and registered to perform manpower services to meet the outsourcing requirements of companies including garments factories. There were issues whether some cooperatives supplying manpower services are in fact engaged in labor-only contracting. Another issue is non-compliance to prescribed wages and benefits of workers.
Ms. Mercedes G. Gagnon saw the plight of workers and felt that it was part of her social responsibility to help them. Motivated and committed, in November 2010, 460 garment workers of CFMC with full support of Ms. Gagnon decided to establish an informal organization called “Kabisig,” meaning “linked arms” in Pilipino language. The name was chosen to establish the aim of working together to achieve a common goal. In February 2011, their number was doubled and by the end of 2011, they had 1,600 members.
The organization was turned into a cooperative by January 2012. Twenty (20) cooperators pooled their resources, which totalled Php 130,000.00. They named the organization Kabisig Workers Cooperative (KWC). As a cooperative, KWC is owned and governed by its members, operated for the benefits of its members. However some pains came with the cooperative’s birth. Its problems include proving that KWC is a workers’ cooperative and not a manpower pooling agency and that its purpose is not just to provide jobs but as workers’ cooperative that can give services to its members without being categorized as multi-purpose cooperative.
With patience, determination, resourcefulness, morality, strong management, the people’s whole hearted acceptance of the cooperative system and prayer, the cooperative believed that it would surpass all trials and started providing efficient, dedicated garments subcontracting (cutting, embroidery, printing, sewing, washing, finishing, packing, and cartooning) in Cavite.
KWC is committed to excellence and true to its objectives – Only the best is good enough – KWC has emphasized the importance of high quality of service to its clients. It is their commitment to give exceptional standards of performance and productivity. Also, KWC ensures job satisfaction through pay, benefits, and services to all its members.
