DOLE main office (INQUIRER file photo)
MANILA, Philippines — Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III has ordered the resumption of nationwide labor inspections, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) said on Sunday.
Labor inspections were suspended in December to allow DOLE to finish all pending labor standards cases and prepare the inspection program for 2022.
“In Administrative Order No. 11, Series of 2022 issued on January 19, Bello authorized the Department’s labor inspectors to conduct routine inspections, complaint inspection, occupational safety, health standards investigation, and special inspection in establishments until December 31, 2022, unless earlier revoked,” DOLE said in a statement.
Bello likewise directed the agency’s regional directors “to issue the corresponding authority to inspect and investigate specific establishments or workplaces.”
More than 600 labor inspectors were granted the authority to conduct inspections in establishments across the country.
“Meanwhile, 126 technical safety inspectors were authorized to conduct Technical Safety Inspection of boilers, pressure vessels, internal combustion engines, elevators, hoisting equipment, electrical wirings, and other mechanical equipment installation,” DOLE said.
Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III (INQUIRER file photo)
“In addition, technical safety inspectors who are registered mechanical and electrical engineers are directed to conduct initial review and evaluation of mechanical and electrical plans for the issuance of Permit to Operate for mechanical equipment and Certificate of Electrical Inspection for electrical wiring installations,” DOLE added.
Bello reiterated that only designated hearing officers will “conduct mandatory conferences for inspections with noted violations.”
“Among those authorized are 485 hearing officers tasked to conduct mandatory conferences after the lapse of the correction period for violations of general labor standards, occupational safety, and health standards, and contracting or subcontracting rules,” DOLE said.
A total of 115 regional office personnel were designated as sheriff who will be responsible in the enforcement of issued writs of execution, implementation of decisions, and performance of final decisions and orders.
In 2021, DOLE inspected a total of 90,327 establishments covering 3.7 million workers.