Shell raises workplace safety via DOLE partnership

MANILA, Philippines - Pilipinas Shell Petroleum Corp. (Pilipinas Shell) signed recently a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Department of Labor and Employment – National Capital Region (DOLE-NCR) aimed at improving safety, productivity and health standards in the workplace.

“We are glad to have this partnership with DOLE to help our service providers in improving the level of occupational safety standards in their respective organizations,” said Shell companies in the Philippines country chairman and president Edgar Chua. “Safety is Shell’s license to operate. In our business operations, standards are non-negotiable and we implement the highest standards across all business areas.”

The MOU will implement the program called “Kapatiran para sa mas Ligtas, Malusog, at Produktibo na mga Manggagawa” (KAPATIRAN WISE-TAV).  The program calls for large enterprises or ‘big brothers,’ such as Pilipinas Shell, to provide technical assistance to their service providers or ‘small brothers’ (generally categorized by the DOLE as Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) to adopt standards that enhance the safety, productivity and health of their respective workforce.

“We believe that through this program, we will be able to highlight the corporate social responsibility of the enterprises in the communities where they operate,” said Alan Macaraya, DOLE – NCR Regional Director who represented DOLE Secretary Rosalinda Dimapilis-Baldoz at the MoU signing. “We encourage the MSMEs to do their share in making this partnership better and beneficial, by ensuring that standards are followed with the guidance of their principal companies.”

The KAPATIRAN WISE-TAV program involves large companies operating in the National Capital Region, which volunteer to participate as strategic partners of the DOLE and adopt equally willing MSMEs.