The Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU) is demanding justice and accountability for the death of Robin Esguerra, an SM City Baguio utility worker, on November 2. The militant labor center said that the company should be held accountable for its criminal negligence regarding the occupational safety and health (OSH) of its workers.

Esguerra died after entering an elevator shaft that had its car on a different floor and falling 20 meters. He left behind his wife who is eight months pregnant.

His fellow workers expressed outrage on social media, saying that this was not the first time an accident had occurred at the workplace in SM City Baguio. However, these incidents have been concealed from the public.

“OSH is a major concern for workers, and it is the responsibility of SM and the Department of Labor and Employment to ensure that workers are safe, especially those in hazardous jobs,” KMU secretary general and Makabayan Coalition senatorial candidate Jerome Adonis said.

The labor leader added that SM should be held accountable beyond just negotiating with the victim’s family. “[They should] indemnify to the family of Robin Esguerra. The DOLE should also be held accountable for its lack of safety inspections, which is their duty to the government,” Adonis said.

Adonis expressed his support for the Esguerra family’s call for an immediate investigation into the accident, and extended his condolences and solidarity to the family in their demand for justice.

SM City Baguio is one of the 85 malls owned by SM Supermalls, a subsidiary of SM Prime Holdings, Inc, which is owned by the SM Group of the Sy family. The Sy family’s malls reported revenues of ₱71.9 billion in 2023, a 30% increase from 2022.