DOLE cites firms with less workers’ absenteeism

The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) last week recognized an electronics firm, a cement and aggregates manufacturer, and the country’s only copper smelter and refinery for having the best family welfare program (FWP) in the country that effectively reduced absenteeism among their workers and promoted productivity and industrial peace in their workplaces.

The three firms, Fuji Electric Philippines, Inc. (FEP) in Canlubang, Laguna; Philippine Associated Smelting and Refining Corporation (PASAR) at the Leyte Industrial Development Estate in Isabel, Leyte; and Holcim Philippines, Incorporated in Lugait, Misamis Oriental, have been declared winners in this year’s search for establishments with the best FWP practices at the workplace.

The DOLE, through its Bureau of Workers with Special Concerns (BWSC), spearheaded the annual search, and conferred the awards in simple ceremonies at the Occupational Safety and Health Center in Quezon City.

Fuji Electric Philippines, Inc. was cited for its FWP projects—a room for lactating female workers, an education program on child care and nutrition, and a workers’ fruits and vegetable garden—which effectively reduced absenteeism from 6.69 percent in 2006 to only 3.75 percent in 2009. Fuji Electric has a female-dominated workforce, and its FWP projects had also reduced pregnancy from 18 percent in 2006 to only eight percent in 2009.

PASAR’s best FWPs are in the area of reproductive health and responsible parenthood; spirituality and value formation; education (scholarship grants); livelihood and additional income generation; and sports and leisure, all of which have been observed to have positively impacted on a sustained industrial peace and harmony, lowered absenteeism, and higher productivity.

At Holcim Philippines, its FWPs on medical health care; spirituality and value formation; and livelihood and additional income generation have also resulted in reduced absenteeism and healthcare costs, increased employee retention, productivity, and satisfaction.

For example, Holcim prides itself of giving out P50,000 per illness per annum to its workers with up to a maximum of five dependents. Its FWPs have been incorporated in its collective baragaining agreements since 1988 with a funding support of P3.8 million annually.

“The DOLE, through its Bureau of Workers with Special Concerns (BWSC), recognizes these establishments with the best FWPs that promote not only the welfare of workers but also the productivity and labor and management harmony in private companies and establishments in the country,” said Labor and Employment Secretary Rosalinda Dimapilis-Baldoz.

Baldoz commended the winners for installing workplace measures that promote family welfare and serve as models for other firms to emulate and replicate.

Noting that these outstanding FWPs make workers happy and, thus, more productive, she said:

“I salute the winners for consciously providing workplace welfare services and, thus, enhancing the national goal aimed at making our workers more efficient, productive, and capable to contribute to the growth of industry and the economy as well.”

The winners at the annual search were chosen for implementing welfare programs that met the 10 dimensions of FWP, to wit: (1) reproductive health and responsible parenthood; (2) education and gender equality; (3) spirituality or value formation; (4) income generation, livelihood, and cooperative; (5) medical health care; (6) nutrition; (7) environmental protection, hygiene, and sanitation; (8) sports and leisure; ((9) housing; and (10) transportation.

The DOLE also cited the following regional winners with outstanding FWPs in their workplaces: (1) Hotel Sogo (National Capital Region); (2) Philex Mining Corporation (Cordillera Administrative Region); (3) Team Sual Corporation (Ilocos); (4) Isabela-I Electric Cooperative (Cagayan Valley); (5) Cyber City Teleservices (Central Luzon); (6) Energy Development Corporation (Bicol); (7) St. Paul’s Hospital (Western Visayas); (8) TMX Philippines, Inc. (Central Visayas); (9) Permex Producer and Exported Corporation (Western Mindanao); (10) New City Commercial Center (Davao Region); (11) Dole Stanfilco North Cotabato Zone (Central Mindanao); and (12) Taganito Mining Corporation (CARAGA).