DOLE contradicts self on ABS-CBN labor law compliance
MANILA, Philippines (UPDATE 1 11:13 p.m., July 1) — The labor department became the latest government agency to castigate embattled ABS-CBN Corp., suddenly turning around from previous statements that cleared the broadcast network of labor violations.
This time, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) said Wednesday inspectors, in fact, “found violations of laws and standards” committed by the Lopez-led network. But in the same breath, DOLE also said infractions were essentially cured after the company “took steps to correct these violations.”
Such process is not unique to ABS-CBN. In numerous instances, companies found violating the country’s labor laws are accorded due process and given a chance to repair the deficiencies within a reasonable time.
These are most prominent under the Duterte administration, which ran after firms that failed to regularize workers and give them benefits. Companies such as Jollibee Foods Corp. and Nutri-Asia Inc. had been ordered in the past to regularize workers.
On top of this, President Rodrigo Duterte himself prioritized legislation against labor contractualization, but vetoed the bill to put the policy in effect in July 2019.
“The labor department denounces attempts by lawyers and officials of ABS CBN to misrepresent its position to deceive members of the House of Representatives in its bid to gain congressional approval for a new franchise,” DOLE said in a statement.
“We also take strong exceptions to claims that the department has found ABS-CBN compliant with labor laws and standards, and that we approve of the seasonal work status for the broadcast firm’s program employees,” it added.
DOLE’s remarks came as legislators at the House of Representatives zeroed in on alleged worker rights violations of ABS-CBN, one of the issues supposedly blocking the network from securing a new 25-year franchise to air. The network was shut down by the Duterte government when its franchise expired last May 5.
In an apparent bid to show ABS-CBN’s defiance to labor measures, DOLE went as far as pointing out the 67 pending labor cases against ABS-CBN at the National Labor Relations Commission and various courts.
The agency, however, conveniently failed to say that under Philippine laws, an accused is presumed innocent until substantial evidence is provided to show otherwise.
“It is therefore patently misleading to attribute to us the claim that ABS CBN is a compliant company,” DOLE said.
In February, Mark Nepomuceno, former head of ABS-CBN Corporate Services Group, told senators the network secured a “clearance” from DOLE last year, stating ABS-CBN is “fully compliant” of rules governing general labor standards, occupational safety and health, and security of tenure.
That statement was echoed by no less than Labor Undersecretary Ana Dione at the House hearing last June 29, saying the network was dropped as respondent “in the matter of inspection conducted in its premises” after being “fully compliant” with all labor regulations.
Editor's note: This article has been updated to show that in labor cases, subtantial evidence is required to prove violations. It amends the original sentence that mentioned violations must be proven beyond reasonable doubt which is applicable for criminal cases.
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