DOLE to companies, employers cooperate with labor inspections

CEBU, Philippines —  The Department of Labor and Employment-7 urged establishments to cooperate and keep an open mind during the department’s inspections as part of its intensified promotion of decent work and protection of workers' rights.

DOLE-7 Regional Director Johnson G. Cañete especially enjoined the representatives of the management sector to open their doors and allow inspectors from DOLE to carry out the inspections.

Cañete said that whatever findings that will be noted by labor inspectors in the inspection, their agency will still assist establishments in rectifying observed deficiencies and violations.

"Right after the conduct of inspection, companies will still be given remediation period to correct deficiencies. The Department is there to assist them. That’s due process of law. However, these findings will have to progress to a Mandatory Conference when they are left unattended. Again, that’s still a demonstration of due process,” Cañete said.

Eventually, Cañete said if there are still no appropriate results reached after the mandatory conferences, the department will now issue a compliance order especially in the event that establishments fail to correct identified violations within the prescribed period.

Under Article 128 of the Labor Code of the Philippines or the DOLE’s enforcement and visitorial power, the secretary of Labor and Employment or its duly authorized representative, can visit establishments and conduct inspections.

The statement added that labor inspectors of DOLE can inspect establishments to also check their compliance with labor laws.

"For as long as there is work undertaken in an establishment, the DOLE can do inspection. With this, we are encouraging our partner-establishments to be one with us and keep an open mind when we conduct inspection,” Cañete further said.

For this year, the DOLE-7 is targeting to inspect more than 4,000 establishments in the entire Central Visayas covering various types of industries. — BRP (FREEMAN)