Adopt labor standards and systems, employers urged

VIGAN CITY, Feb. 21, 2011, (PIA) – – The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) had announced that the members of the Regional Tripartite Industrial Peace Council (RTIPC) affirmed its support in institutionalizing plant level reforms in Labor Standards Enforcement Framework and labor arbitration and adjudication system initiated by the agency. This is to foster a culture of voluntary compliance and industrial peace among industries in Ilocos – Pangasinan region.

In a board meeting in La Union, DOLE Region 1 Director Henry John Jalbuena also urged the RTIPC to closely work with the Department of Labor and Employment in encouraging and capacitating firms to adopt the reforms which are enunciated in the 22-point labor and employment agenda of President Benigno S. Aquino III.

“Through strengthened tripartite partnership, we will enable firms to develop a culture of voluntary compliance by engaging them in the implementation of the DOLE Tripartite Certificate of Labor Standards Compliance and in the formulation of Voluntary Code of Good Practices,” Jalbuena said.

In the DOLE’s press release, it said that the Certificate of Labor Standards Compliance will be issued to establishments which, after thorough evaluation by a tripartite committee under the TIPC, are found to have been compliant with Labor Standards for the past three years.

The Voluntary Code of Good Practices is a set of flexible rules or minimum standards which employers and workers voluntarily formulate to mutually benefit them as to matters affecting labor, employment, social and economic issues.

Jalbuena reported that a Voluntary Code of Good Practices in the Hotel and Restaurant Industry of Dagupan City is due for signing.

“Self-Regulation is a developmental approach to ensuring compliance with labor standards,” Jalbuena explained, adding that it should be a preferred option to being subjected to the DOLE’s visitorial power or inspection.

Jalbuena also urged the council to support the 30-day mandatory conciliation-mediation for all labor and employment cases under the Single Entry Approach which aims to declog case loads in DOLE offices and its attached agencies. “As our social partners, you can help prevent or lessen employer-employee issues by actively utilizing your grievance machineries. Resolve them at your level before they turn into labor complaints,” he told.

Among the representatives who attended the meeting were: Divine Word College of Vigan; Saint Louis College; Gifted Learning Center; National Tobacco Redrying Company, Inc. Workers Union; La Union Cement (Holcim) Workers Union; Union Christian Colleges Faculty and Staff Union; Northern Philippines College of Maritime Science and Technology; McKleene Premium Products; Molte Aries Construction; AMA College; Ilocos Sur Electric Cooperative; Bethany Hospital Employees Union; Shipside, Inc.; LandBank of the Philippines-La Union; Ilocos Sur Cooperative Bank; Pangasinan Electric Cooperative I & III Employees Union; Northern Luzon Security Agency; Coca-Cola Bottling Phils., Inc.; and DOLE-1 officials and employees. (Freddie G. Lazaro/PIA- Ilocos Sur)