SEA Games subcontractor called out for ‘safety violations’

MANILA, Philippines — The Associated Labor Unions-Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (ALU-TUCP) has urged the Construction Industry Tripartite Council to investigate the contractor behind the rushed refurbishing works at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum that led to an accident involving a construction worker on Monday.

Richard delos Santos was allegedly working for almost 24 hours to complete renovation works in time for the opening on Saturday of the Southeast Asian Games (SEAG) when he slipped and suffered a leg injury. Requiring workers to go beyond the eight-hour work day was a “clear case of a coercive policy environment,” the group said.

“Pushing construction workers to perform their job for more than overtime … is a serious basic violation of workers’ rights,” ALU-TUCP spokesperson Alan Tanjusay said in a statement.

Worker overfatigue is the leading cause of workplace mishaps, the group added.

Following the incident, Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III warned contractors of sanctions if they failed to comply with the occupational safety and health standards law. —Jovic Yee