DOLE to hire new labor compliance officers

CEBU, Philippines – The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) is fast-tracking to hire new labor compliance officers in order to increase its roster of labor inspectors for the effective and efficient enforcement of all labor laws, including Department Order No. 18-A which addresses the issue of contractualization.

There are currently only 271 labor inspectors across the regions handling the inspection of the country’s 64,562 companies.

DOLE Regional Director Ma. Gloria Tango said the DOLE is already conducting the screening of would-be labor compliance officers who will undergo extensive training on labor laws as well as on safety and health standards.

Applicants should be a college graduate; preferably a licensed mechanical, civil, or electrical engineer; has knowledge of applicable labor laws, department policies and procedures, proper inspection techniques and procedures; and has the ability to interpret laws and apply them to a particular situation to qualify as a labor inspector.

Tango said that the vacancies for Labor Law Compliance Officers, with the position of senior labor and employment officer, is open to existing DOLE employees and outsiders, provided they comply with all the qualifications, examination and trainings.

Aside from the basic inspectorate training, there will be additional trainings for Labor Law Compliance Officers (LLCO) covering specific industries such as maritime, mining (surface personnel), and others. Those who finish the training shall receive tools, gears and equipments for them to completely advocate voluntary compliance on labor laws.

Tango also explained that the LLCOs will become the new face of DOLE who will facilitate the full compliance with labor laws by educating the employers and employees and transforming the compulsory mode of compliance to voluntary self-regulation.

Last week, Tango conducted a consultation workshop reviewing the DOLE Labor Enforcement Framework which was attended by about 150 labor enforcement officers from Visayas and Mindanao.

Tango said the consultation intends to review the existing labor standards enforcement framework; identify the individual performance target of labor inspectors; and discuss relevant policies and programs.

She said the shift develops the current and incoming labor enforcement officers as labor educators, advocating voluntary compliance of management to existing labor standards, social welfare benefits and occupational safety and health standards, creating an atmosphere that educates business owners on their violations, thereby, imposing a review on their existing policies.

Aside from the proposed hiring of additional 357 labor inspectors, Tango anticipates the new approach gives the employer and employees opportunity to talk about the labor law violations and settle them. If they fail to settle, she said, the inspector submits his report that starts the legal proceedings. — (FREEMAN), Garry B. Lao/MIT (The Freeman)