DOLE, Hanjin team up to promote safety, labor standards

Compliance with safety standards and labor laws at Heavy Industries is the focus of the “Big Brother, Small Brother” program Hanjin Heavy Industries and Construction Philippines (HHICP) and the Department of Labor and Employment have forged.

This is a very good starting point of our partnership towards productivity and compliance with labor laws and occupational safety and health standards, given that the HHICP has faced a number of concerns in the past few years,” DOLE Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz said.

Hanjin and the DOLE signed a Memorandum of Understanding that encourages big companies to coach small companies in becoming fully compliant with labor laws and occupational safety and health standards.

“The MOU effectively covers 16 HHICP contractors, subcontractors, and services providers and involves 22,000 workers,” the DOLE said.

Baldoz signed the MOU on behalf of the DOLE, while President Ahn Jin Kyu signed on behalf of HHICP. DOLE Regional Director Raymundo Agravante and Bureau of Working Conditions Director Brenda Villafuerte witnessed the signing at the HHICP shipbuilding facility in Subic Bay Freeport Zone in Zambales.

Ahn Jin Kyu said that as “Big Brother, HHICP is willing to share its safety and health standards with its contractors, subcontractors, and services providers.

Presently, 79 “Big Brothers” and 804 “Small Brothers” are enrolled under the program, effectively covering 177,000 workers, who benefit from the MOU in terms of better labor conditions and safer and healthier work places. — ELR, GMA News