Group seeks authority to inspect companies

CEBU, Philippines – The Alliance of Progressive Labor (APL) has formally asked the Department of Labor and Employment (Dole) to give them an authority to conduct an inspection of companies, especially those who are believed to have violated the minimum wage law.

APL President Jose Tomongha said that he had a talk with Dole Assistant Regional Director Exequil Sarcauga on this matter following their concern that the employment office lacks personnel to conduct inspections.

Tomongha said that Dole still has to study their request which includes inspection of the occupational safety imposed by several companies especially the construction sector.

If Tomongha is to be believed, more than 200 companies in Central Visayas are not following the minimum wage law and most of these companies are into retail, service and manufacturing services.

With the recent P18-minimum wage hike approved by the Regional Tripartite Wage and Productivity Board, their group are expecting more violations from these sectors.

The militant labor group, the Partido ng Manggagawa, likewise slammed the wage hike of P18 for Cebu workers as "loose change" and called for the abolition of the regional wage boards for "betraying the working class."

The group said it is not even enough for workers to buy a kilo of commercial rice or even the cheapest NFA rice worth P25.

According to a study by the group, the cost of living for a six-member family in Metro Cebu already reached P900 per day last April.

Meanwhile, the Industry Tripartite Councils will hold a meeting this afternoon for the hotel, restaurant and tourism industry at the City Sports Club with Dole Director for the Bureau of Labor Relations Rebecca Chato.

Chato is expected to talk about dispute settlement, conciliation and mediation and other problems facing the tourism and information technology industries.

Expected to attend are the management and different labor unions and their representatives. (FREEMAN)