‘Philippines still far from developing culture of workplace safety’

MANILA, Philippines — Even with the implementation of the Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) law, the country is still far from developing a culture of safe and healthy workplace.

In an interview with the “The Chiefs” over Cignal TV’s One News, Bukluran ng Manggagawang Pilipino (BMP) chairman Leody de Guzman said until now, occupational safety and health comes as a last resort for both workers and employers.

De Guzman added that most employers are scrimping on occupational safety and health measures to enjoy more profit, while workers would choose not to complain to avoid losing their jobs.

“We are standing on unfavorable situation wherein there is widespread contractualization, many are unemployed. That is why workers cannot exercise their rights to avoid repercussion. If they complain, they can get terminated,” De Guzman said.

De Guzman also said filing of cases against employers is not a first option for workers because these take a long time to be resolved.

Of the cases filed before the National Labor Relations Commission in the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), De Guzman said only few have prospered.

But De Guzman said employers, workers as well as the government should refrain from ignoring the issue of occupational safety and health.

Every year, he said, an average of 50,000 work-related accidents occur due to poor implementation of occupational safety and health regulations.

“There are many laws, but the problem is the implementation and there’s the reason why many employers are not complying,” he noted.

De Guzman said workers should be aware that they have the right to reject a job that exposes them to hazards.

“The law is very clear, but my worry is the implementation. We are yet to develop a health and safety culture in the workplace,” he stressed.

Citing studies, De Guzman said 3.8 million workers are unable to enjoy their rights to occupational safety and health despite existing regulations.

Meanwhile, Occupational Safety and Health Center executive director Jose Maria Batino said the law provides administrative penalties for employers violating occupational safety and health standards.

Batino maintained that workers whose employers fail to comply with occupational safety and health standards may file complaints before the DOLE regional office.        

Penalties will be imposed depending on the violations committed.

Batino noted that employers are mandated by law to conduct risk assessment and adopt safety measures depending on the level of risks in their industry.

For his part, Federation of Free Workers vice president Julius Cainglet claimed that the government and employers are not taking the issue of occupational safety and health seriously.

Cainglet said workplace hazard is a problem affecting all industries and not only in the construction and manufacturing sectors.

“Call center workers are affected by safety and health issues such as their working hours and work-related stress,” he noted.

The OSH law is less than a year old and Cainglet said labor groups could still not determine its impact in preventing work-related accidents.

But he expressed doubts that existing rules are sufficient to ensure protection of workers from hazards in the workplace.