DOLE recommends scrapping of HTI compliance certificates over Cavite factory fire

by Ferdinand G. Patinio/PNA), Jun 5, 2017

MANILA, June 5 — The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) has recommended the revocation of the certificates of compliance with the general labor standards and occupational safety and health standards (OSHS) of the House Technology Industries (HTI) and its contractors over the fire that gutted the electronics firm located inside the Cavite Economic Zone last February.

The agency’s probe team, headed by Labor Undersecretary Joel Maglunsod, found the Japanese company to have committed multiple violations of the general labor standards and safety regulations.

“We should revoke the certificates of compliance with the general labor standards and occupational safety and health standards of the HTI and its contractors because of the violations noted during the investigations,” he said in a statement.

Among the violations, Maglunsod noted is the inadequate and non-compliant with OSHS, as the company only has 12 safety officers (SOs) while it should have 15 SOs for having a total manpower of 7,062 employees.

The report added that the HTI has no resting area for its workers and failed to provide appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) to workers handling sharp materials and to those exposed to hazardous fumes.

On the other hand, the DOLE also found the contractors to have committed illegal wage deduction to some of its workers and failed to pay workers’ service incentive leave.

“DOLE investigation team found that HTI contractors committed illegal wage deduction to some of their employees at the time of the fire incident,” Maglunsod said.

With this, the DOLE official recommended for the company and its contractors to pay the deductions amounting to PHP10.8 million, as well as the workers’ service incentive leave worth PHP15.7 million.

The investigation team also suggested for the review of the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) law and its implementing rules and regulations to ensure strict enforcement and compliance with the general labor standards, occupational safety and health standards, and other laws and social legislations to avoid similar incidents in the future.

At present, the Japanese-owned firm is still operational until the possible cancellation of its certificate of compliance, which will be released by the DOLE Regional Office No. IV-A to prevent displacement of some of its workers.