CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga — The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) 3 (Central Luzon) is stepping up its efforts to promote the occupational safety and health of the region’s workers.
DOLE-3 Director Zenaida Angara-Campita said Wednesday a series of orientations on Republic Act (RA) No. 11058, or the “Occupational Safety and Health Standards (OSHS) Law”, is being conducted in the region.
“We have kicked off our series of orientations on this new OSH Law in order to educate our employers and workers here in Central Luzon on the importance of adhering (to) safety practices at the workplace and let them know that deliberately evading these rules could penalize them,” Campita said in a media interview.
Under the new OSH law, failure or refusal of an employer, contractor, or subcontractor to comply will be meted a fine ranging from PHP20,000 to PHP50,000, depending on the administrative violation committed.
Meanwhile, “an employer, contractor or subcontractor who is found to have repeatedly violated the same prohibited act shall be penalized of the corresponding fine, plus an additional fine equivalent to 50 percent thereof for every instance of repeat violation.”
The DOLE also said that when the violation exposes the worker to death, serious injury or illness, the imposable penalty will be PHP100,000.
Campita said various locators and members of the Industrial Tripartite Councils at the Clark Field Freeport Zone were first to undergo the orientation.
The second orientation, she said, was held last week in Bulacan, where some 102 firms from various industries were oriented on the new OSH.
“Other series of trainings and orientations will continuously be conducted in the region as part of the department’s commitment for the protection of the rights of workers and employers as well,” Campita added.
