DOLE, PEZA get Duterte’s ire

by Christina Mendez (The Philippine Star), Jan 10, 2018

MANILA, Philippines — President Duterte has ordered the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) and the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) to revoke an agreement that supposedly provided guidelines on the implementation of labor and occupational health safety regulations.

Duterte gave the order after authorities engaged in finger-pointing over accountability for the fire that gutted the NCCC Mall in Davao City that resulted in the death of 36 employees of the call center Survey Sampling International (SSI) last Dec. 23.

“There was also a revocation of the agreement between the DOLE and PEZA on the monitoring compliance with labor safety standards,” presidential spokesman Harry Roque said yesterday.

In a press briefing at Malacañang, Roque said the President had to intervene after there were supposed labor violations by NCCC Mall and SSI.

Duterte made the call during the first Cabinet meeting of the year last Monday in Malacañang, where he confronted concerned officials about the matter.

“Obviously, this revocation is borne by the fact that at least two PEZA establishments recently had man-made tragedies and part of the tragedies was traced to failure to comply with labor safety standards, including the recent tragedy in Davao involving the NCCC Mall,” Roque said.

The Palace was referring to the memorandum signed by former labor secretary Patricia Sto. Tomas and then PEZA director general Lilia de Lima.

Signed on March 27, 2006, the DOLE and PEZA agreed to recognize each other’s mutual concern for the effective implementation of labor standards in accordance with the Labor Code.

The memorandum also said that the enforcement of labor standards and occupational health and safety laws within the economic zone shall be a joint undertaking of the DOLE and PEZA.

It is also provided that any inspection and/or investigation shall be conducted by the representatives of the DOLE regional office and the PEZA.

“Any findings for violations of labor standards and occupational health and safety laws shall be resolved un accordance with law,” it added.

Labor groups have also intensified their call to review the safety procedures in the business process outsourcing (BPO) industry, also following reports that BPO companies do not conduct emergency drills among employees.