To enable the Labor department to dispose of all pending labor standards cases and prepare the inspection program for 2022, Labor Sec. Silvestre Bello III has suspended all labor inspection activities this month.
In Administrative Order No. 269, series of 2021, Bello directed all Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) regional directors to temporarily cease all labor inspection activities in their respective regions starting Dec. 1.
“However, exempted from the suspension of inspection are Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) COVID-19 Monitoring under Joint Memorandum Circular No. 20-04A of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) and Department of Trade and Industry (DTI); complaint inspections; OSH standards investigations; technical safety inspections, such as inspection of boilers, pressure vessels, and mechanical and electrical wiring installation; and inspection of any establishment or industry as I have directed as DOLE Secretary,” said Bello.
Such activities shall be conducted in strict observance of the minimum public health standards, he added.
During the period of suspension, DOLE regional directors shall ensure that all results of inspection activities are uploaded in the agency’s management information system before the end of December.
The conduct of routine inspections shall resume upon issuance of the 2022 General Authority for Labor Inspectors.
As of Oct. 31, a total of 56,332 establishments were inspected by the DOLE labor inspectors.
The initial compliance rate is at 84.18% on general labor standards, 57.93% on OSHS, and 95.81% on minimum wage.
After the inspected establishments have implemented the necessary corrections, the compliance rate is at 90.47% on general labor standards and 67.01% on OSHS.
Among the notable violations on general labor standards pertain to record-keeping, Pag-IBIG coverage, and remittances to Pag-IBIG, PhilHealth, and SSS.
Meanwhile, common violations on OSH include the absence of the first aider, safety officer/s, fire safety inspection certificate, registration of establishment, and annual medical report. (DOLE) – jlo
