No more sweatshops in Philippines - DTI, DOLE vow

MANILA, Philippines -  The government is working on a new certification system that would assure its trading partners globally that there are no sweatshops in the country.

The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) on Tuesday signed a joint department order for the accreditation guidelines of garment firms that would highlight the country’s compliance to global labor standards.

The new joint department order provides the guidelines for the issuance, suspension or revocation of certificates of accreditation for garments firms.

The accreditation certificate guidelines cover garment manufacturers, exporters and subcontractors who would want to avail of preferential tariffs under the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP).

The DTI said the joint order is part of the country’s commitment to comply with global labor standards for the garments and textile industries.

“Despite the changing landscape of global trends, the production of goods and services must still conform to international labor standards for market access. This order will help promote labor laws compliance and standards in the garment industry via certification and decertification mechanisms for companies who want to avail preferential tariff under the GSP,” Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez said.

The DTI said the joint order is a product of a series of consultative meetings of the two agencies with the Clothing and Textile Industry Tripartite Council and labor and employment sectors since 2010.

“The signing of the joint guidelines for the garments industry on the certification on labor standards compliance will ensure that are our workers have decent jobs, and that they enjoy the economic benefits that our participation in the global trade brings,” Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello said.

“This joint issuance serves as a proof of the Duterte administration’s resolve to ensure that Filipino workers here and abroad can reap the just fruits of their honest labors even as their employers gain a reasonable return of their investments while ensuring business expansion and growth,” Bello added.

Trade Undersecretary Ceferino Rodolfo said the DTI-DOLE order is an initiative of the Philippines and is not mandated by the international community.

“So before we export garments using GSP to the EU, for example, on our own, we will certify them first that they are compliant with our labor regulations. We’re self-imposing this on us and we’re the only ones who have this to ensure that we are not a sweatshop and we pay the right wages,” Rodolfo said.

“Although initially you will look at this as somehow self-restricting, but eventually it will be a competitive advantage if we can show that the products that are made in the Philippines are done and produced by workers who are being treated well by the companies,” he added.