DOLE cites high compliance rate for labor standards

MANILA, Philippines — There is now a 90-percent compliance rate for general labor standards among private establishments in the country, according to the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE)’s Bureau of Working Conditions.

BWC Director Alvin Curada said the high compliance rate was recorded among the 80,915 establishments inspected this year.

“As of November 2022, we have registered a 90-percent compliance rate in the country. Our compliance rate for general labor standards is high,” he said at the Laging Handa public briefing yesterday.

He said among the regions with the highest compliance rate are the Cordillera Administrative Region, Mimaropa, Western Visayas, Central Visayas and Northern Mindanao.

Curada, however, noted lower compliance rate in occupational safety and health (OSH) standards.

“Among the OSH challenges we saw are the lack of first aider, safety officers, fire safety inspection certificate and OSH programs,” Curada said.

The BWC earlier said there is a 78.08 percent compliance rate among 74,945 establishments inspected as of Oct. 31.

The compliance rate, however, will no longer have a chance to increase further as the DOLE has already suspended it starting Dec. 1.

Curada said labor inspections are being done under specific circumstances such as the distribution and selling of fireworks to ensure these are safe and free from potential accidents.