TUCP condemns senseless deaths in Butuan fire

News release
Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP)        Contact: JOSE P. UMALI JR. 09178977182

RAFAEL E. MAPALO
09472812811
(for immediate release)

TUCP condemns senseless deaths in Butuan fire

The Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP) condemns what it claims as senseless but preventable deaths of 17 female workers in Butuan City early Wednesday.

“TUCP mourns with the families of the 17 sales ladies who died from the Butuan City fire,” says TUCP General Secretary Jun Umali, Jr.

“It is senseless. Accidents such as this could easily be mitigated if proper safety precautions and practices are mindfully put in place.

Based on reports, 17 of the 21 stay-in female workers died in a fire that blazed a commercial building in Butuan. Four barely escaped death. They are treated in a nearby hospital for their injuries.

A TUCP compilation of news reports show that nine workers have been killed and 11 were injured in six serious work-related incidents from January to March if this year.

Some 74 workers were killed and 73 were injured in 34 workplace incidents in 2011. These were lower than in 2010 with 109 deaths, 87 injured and 58 incidents and in 2009 with 98 death and 158 work-related injuries. (www.ntucphl.org)

“Improvements in safety and health at the workplace are urgent. Lack of budget and personnel are unacceptable reasons for workers to get injured, get ill, or die,” says Umali.

He reiterates TUCP’s proposal to deputize trained union leaders and workers to do joint workplace inspection and assist government in ensuring safer, healthier, and sustainable working conditions.

“We have trained leaders and members. We are more than happy to extend help and work with the DOLE to achieve better results on workplace safety and health. This could be one lasting and realistic solution to the lingering problem of lack of personnel in DOLE,” he says.

On Labor Day (May 1, 2012), President Aquino approved the hiring of additional labor inspectors in DOLE.