By Sheila Crisostomo (The Philippine Star), Feb 12, 2017
MANILA, Philippines – A directive of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) delegating the inspection of establishments in special economic zones may be revoked.
Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III made the announcement on Friday as the DOLE starts its own investigation into a fire that gutted a factory of the House Technology Industries Ltd. (HTI) at the Cavite Export Processing Zone in General Trias City in Cavite last week. Two of more than a hundred workers who were injured had died.
Bello was referring to DOLE Order 131 allowing establishments under the jurisdiction of the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) to “voluntarily” undergo labor inspection.
“We will review and possibly revoke that order. It is the duty of the department to ensure occupational safety. It cannot be waived,” he said.
Bello also cited a memorandum of agreement between DOLE and PEZA delegating technical safety inspection.
He said companies in ecozones should not be exempted from inspection by DOLE.
“It is incumbent on the department to make sure that companies comply with occupational safety and health standards,” he said.
Bello ordered a parallel probe into the fire that hit HTI to determine if the firm complied with occupational safety and health standards as well as related rules and regulations.
He issued Administrative Order 32 creating an investigating panel led by DOLE undersecretary Joel Maglunsod.
The heads of the DOLE office in Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, Quezon), Occupational Safety and Health Center as well as the Bureaus of Working Conditions, Local Employment and Workers with Special Concerns are the other members of the panel.
The panel is tasked to come up with a comprehensive report of its investigation on Feb. 17.
HTI, a manufacturing firm, has 10,892 workers.
September 18 –
International Equal Pay Day
“Increase wages now,
more than other cost items.
For widespread, practical equality!”
Invoke Article 33 of the ILO Constitution
against the military junta in Myanmar
to carry out the recommendations of the 2021 ILO Commission of Inquiry
against serious violations of protocols of
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Accept the National Unity Government (NUG)
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October –
Monthly Observances:
Industry and Commerce Safety Month
National Statistics Month
Local Government Month
Consumer Welfare Month
Cooperative Month
National Quality and Productivity Improvement Month
National Health and Wellness Tourism Month
National Indigenous Peoples Month
Weekly Observances:
Week 1: Elderly Filipino Week
Week 2: National Health Education Week
Local Government Week
National Mental Health Week
October 17-23:
National Week for Overcoming Extreme Poverty
October 18 – 24:
United Nations Week
Last Week:
Nurses’ Week
Consumers’ Protection Week
Week of the 4th Sunday:
Barrio Farmers’ Week
Daily Observances:
First Monday (Oct 4): Universal Children’s Day i
n the Philippines
Oct 5: National Teachers’ Day
Oct 10: Local Government Day
Third Thursday (Oct 14): Conflict Resolution Day
Oct 21: Tenants’ Emancipation day
Oct 24: United Nations Day
Oct 29: National Indigenous People’s Thanksgiving Day
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