DOLE-7 hires labor compliance officers

CEBU, Philippines - The Department of Labor and Employment 7 has hired 372 labor laws compliance officers as it embarked on new approach to inspect establishments.

DOLE 7 assistant director Lilia Estillore said that the new guidelines were formulated late last year and will take effect this year.

The labor laws compliance officers replaced the former labor inspectors, said Estillore.

"The strategy is more on voluntary compliance rather than the old approach of enforcing the labor laws," said Estillore during the 888 News Forum at the Marco Polo Plaza yesterday.

Estillore cited some common problems of non-compliance of labor laws.

These include the under payment, mostly of the small businesses where the owners are not aware of the labor laws.

Subcontracting is another problem Estillore has cited where sub-contractors do under-cutting which resulted in the non-compliance of minimum wage law.

The health and occupational safety is also a problem common in construction and manufacturing companies wherein workers are not provided with protective gears.

Estillore said that pre-employment medical examination is supposed to be shouldered by the management and not of the workers.

The violation in overtime is also common in some security agencies wherein the 12 hours work has been a practice.

Estillore stressed that in 24 hours there should be three shifts so that one worker would have eight hours of work to protect health.

It would also generate employment since three workers in a day with eight hours work instead of only two for 12 hours each. — (FREEMAN)