The labor department has trained 55 volunteers to be deputized as labor compliance officers who will assist in the assessment and inspection of establishments throughout the country.
The first batch of volunteer labor compliance officers completed their training at the Occupational Safety and Health Center (OSHC) in Quezon City. They have accomplished all the necessary requirements set by the Bureau of Working Conditions (BWC).
Secretary Silvestre H. Bello III said the volunteer inspectors were recommended by various labor groups and unions also eager to eradicate illegal forms of contractualization and the strict compliance to general labor standards.
He said the deputized inspectors will augment the existing pool of compliance officers tasked to enforce Department Order 174 to end ‘endo’ and illegal contractualization. They will complement the 541 labor inspectors who conduct assessment of close to a million establishments across the country.
From the said number of volunteer inspectors, 46 of whom came from labor groups, five from the employers’ sector, and four were nominated by other organizations.
Those to be deputized were from various unions and labor organizations such as the Unified Filipino Service Workers, NPC Alliance Labor Union, Pepsi Cola Employees and Workers Union, All Workers’ Unity, Association of Professionals Technical and Staff Employees Supervisor Union, All Workers Alliance Trade Unions (AWATU), Green Cross Workers Union, Federation of Free Workers; Philippine Metal Workers Alliance / Automotive Industry Workers Alliance; Cagayan Holiday Leisure Employees Union; National Union of Building and Construction Workers; Metro East Labor Federation Pambansang Kilusan ng Paggawa; Voice in the Call Center Industry; and the Philippine Integrated Industries Labor Union.
Some of the nominating organizations were Philippine Trade & General Workers Organization; Kilusang Mayo Uno; Associated Labor Unions; Ang Nars Inc.; Trade Union Congress of the Philippines; Alliance of Filipino Workers (AFW); Safety Organization of the Philipines, Inc.; National Congress of Unions in the Sugar Industry of the Philippines; Federation of Free Workers; Voice in The Call Center Industry; Philippine Integrated Industries Labor Union; and Lakas sa Industriya ng Kapatirang Haligi ng Alyansa.
The volunteer inspectors were lectured on general labor standards and occupational health and safety (OSH) before they underwent training on the process of labor compliance inspection and other required measures.
Last April, Bello issued Administrative Order No. 16 that set the qualifications and requirements for volunteer workers who wish to become part of the labor assessment team of DOLE. ###doleph
