DOLE finalizes list of ‘labor violators’

Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III. INQUIRER file photo / GRIG C. MONTEGRANDE

The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) is poised to submit to President Rodrigo Duterte a verified list of private sector employers engaged in illegal contractualization practices.

In a statement on Wednesday, DOLE Secretary Silvestre Bello III urged all employers to regularize their workers and comply with general labor standards as the list was set to be submitted by May 25.

Bello said he was ordered by the President to submit a list of companies violating labor laws and those engaged in illegal labor-only contracting.

“The Bureau of Working Conditions (BWC) is just validating its inventory for submission to Malacañang by May 25,” Bello said.

So far, DOLE regional offices that have submitted lists of non-compliant firms were from Regions 4-B, 6, 7, 11 and 12, according to BWC Director Ma. Teresita Cucueco.

“The others are expected to submit within the week,” Cucueco said.

“Of the submitted list, company violations usually involve non-compliance with minimum wage orders, proper computation of overtime pays, and remittance of social benefits,” she added.

While the DOLE has been conducting inspections of private companies such as fast-food chains, malls and manufacturing firms, among others, Bello lamented that labor inspectors are significantly outnumbered by the business firms they need to visit and inspect.

“There are around 900,000 business establishments in the country for which we need to inspect. However, we only have 570 inspectors. But we are not sleeping on our responsibilities,” Bello said. /jpv

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