3 firms in R-12 compliant with labor laws – DOLE

GENERAL SANTOS CITY (MindaNews/05 Dec.) — Three companies in Region 12 have received certifications from the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) for fully complying with labor standards and related regulations.

Ofelia Domingo, DOLE Region 12 director, said they issued the Tripartite Certificate of Compliance on Labor Standards (TCCLS) to Cargill Oil Mills Philippines Inc., Monsanto Philippines Inc.-Research and Development Division and the Ocean Canning Corporation, which are all based in this city.

She said the TCCLS is conferred to companies that have complied with the occupational safety and health standards as well as various labor policies, laws and regulations, including the anti-child labor law.

“These companies were duly audited by our regional tripartite monitoring council,” she said in a statement.

Domingo said the agency issued the certifications to encourage other local companies and establishments to properly comply with the general labor standards and its complementing laws and regulations.

She said among the focus of the auditing of local companies is their compliance with the provisions of Republic Act 9231 or an “Act Providing for the Elimination of the Worst Forms of Child Labor and Affording Stronger Protection for the Working Child.”

DOLE-12 has been regularly monitoring and inspecting various industries in Region 12 due to the noted significant cases of child labor in the area.

Region 12 comprises the provinces of South Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Sarangani, North Cotabato and the cities of General Santos, Koronadal, Tacurong, Kidapawan and Cotabato.

Among those found critical in terms of child labor violations is the region’s thriving small-scale mining industry.

Last year, DOLE-12 initially declared barangay Bula here and the gold-rush village of Kematu in T’boli, South Cotabato as “child labor-free.”

Meantime, Domingo said they are currently working for the compliance of more companies and industries in the region to the general labor standards.

As of last month, she said they already inspected a total of 1,029 establishments covering 41,563 workers in the region.

The figure was 29 or 2.9 percent more than the agency’s target of 1,000 establishments for this year.

Of the 1,029 establishments, Domingo said 736 or 71.5 percent were found compliant with the general labor standards, occupational safety and health as well as social welfare benefits.

To date, she added, a total of 37 companies have made corrections at plant level, with restitutions amounting to P2.719 million benefiting 256 workers. (MindaNews)

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