MANILA — Senator Joel Villanueva on Wednesday called on the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) to intensify its efforts in enforcing occupational safety and health standards (OSHS) following the deadly fire at the Waterfront Manila Pavilion Hotel & Casino in Ermita, Manila.
The fire, which happened Sunday, left five casino workers dead and about 21 people were injured, with one critically.
“I extend my deepest sympathies to the families, friends, and relatives of the employees affected by this tragedy. My thoughts and prayers are with you in this difficult time,” Villanueva said.
Citing reports from the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), he noted that accounts from survivors point to violations on safety standards, as some survivors lamented that the sprinklers and alarm system of the 50-year-old hotel did not work.
“These testimonies substantiate the lack of compliance of the hotel on our occupational safety and health standards,” he said.
“We call on the DOLE to step up its enforcement of OSH standards. Lapses have been too many and frequent to be ignored. How many more deaths from workplace accidents do we have to endure?” Villanueva said.
To further ensure compliance of establishments to OSH standards, the chair of the Senate Committee on Labor, Employment, and Human Resources Development urged for the immediate passage of Senate Bill No. 1317 or ‘An Act Strengthening Compliance with Occupational Safety and Health Standards (OSHS) and Providing Penalties for Violations Thereof.’
The bill seeks to amend the Labor Code which, at present, does not declare unlawful violations of OSHS.
The proposed measure was approved on third and final reading last February 19 and has been sent to the House of Representatives for concurrence.
Under the bill, an amount of PHP100,000 will serve as an administrative penalty for the erring employer for every day of non-correction of violation.
At present, Villanueva noted that DOLE only issues a Work Stoppage Order if there is an imminent danger or would result to disabling injury.
“What we want to address is prevention. If establishments would be strictly mandated to comply with occupational safety and health standards, incidents like this can be prevented,” he said.
“We hope that our OSHS bill would be immediately signed into law – a law that would finally give teeth to our 41-year-old Labor Code and would thus force establishments to comply with occupational safety and health standards,” Villanueva said. (Jose Cielito Reganit/PNA)
