DOLE launches Kapatiran concept

CEBU, Philippines - Companies and industries are urged by the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) to comply with the labor standards particularly on the health and safety policies that concern their manpower, which in effect could improve the productivity of the labor force, develop a sense of security with their employers and fuel the economic growth further.

Last Wednesday, DOLE Region 7 and the Makati Development Corp. (MDC) launched the Kapatiran Wise-TAV partnership, a safety and health corporate social responsibility project initiated by the latter.

Through the “big brother-small brother concept”, the memorandum of agreement was signed to help local subcontractors comply with the occupational safety and health standards set by the labor department.

With this partnership, MDC shall act as a “big brother” who would be responsible in encouraging other industry players to abide with the policies and in monitoring the compliance of these companies particularly the health and safety standards.

Around 55 real estate developers and construction-related companies have joined the “Kapatiran para sa Mas Ligtas at Productibo at Malusog na mga Manggagawa” of MDC and DOLE.

DOLE regional director Chona Mantilla said that given the construction boom in Cebu which has been one of the prime movers of the economic growth in the country, industry-related companies should not tend to overlook the health and safety of their employees that are prone to risks in the workplace.

She cited that there have been at least seven to eight fatalities reported in the work area since the last four months.

She said that most companies struggle to conform with the regular health and safety policies such as the use of personal protection and safety equipment such as hard hats and safety belts and the strict observance of precautionary measures in the workplace.

She added that at present, around 70 percent of the 50,000 establishments in the country are considered to be compliant on the labor standards. She added that they intend to increase such figure to 80 percent this year.

Mantilla further noted that such mentality is driven by the perception of companies that the compliance on labor standards requires them to spend more.

“It’s actually a matter of attitude. Most companies see it as an expense rather than an investment. That’s why we want to emphasize that it must be safety first. What they have to realize is that it is more expensive if there will be a reported death in their work area,” she stated.

She further mentioned other common problems in the labor force that also need to be monitored such as the concerns on wages, compensation and benefits of the employees.

DOLE has created industry tripartite councils among economic sectors including information and technology and business process management, hotels, resorts and restaurants, shipbuilding and ship repair, maritime, and education.

Such strategy, Mantilla said, enables the labor department to partner with industry stakeholders and other government agencies to monitor the compliance of companies and to ensure the welfare of employees.

Once companies learn to be more compliant with the labor standards particularly on occupational health and safety procedures, she said that employees will feel more secure as they will have the “feeling of being taken cared of” and be motivated to be more productive at work, thus contributing to improved efficiency of the company and higher economic growth of the country.

Mantilla then lauded the initiative of MDC and further encouraged other firms to act as “big brothers” of smaller companies. /JOB (FREEMAN)