DOLE: Tourism businesses must comply with labor laws to attract investors

CEBU, Philippines - Tourist places and other sectors should comply with labor laws to attract more visitors and investors into the country, a labor official said.

Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz said labor law-compliant tourist areas could lure more travelers from countries that advocate labor and human rights.

Philippines could easily get into trade deals with rich nations if it adheres to labor rights provisions, Baldoz said when she was in Cebu last month to confer labor-law compliant firms in the province.

Compliance of tourism-related businesses on labor laws drives the industry’s growth and helps local governments market tourist spots easier.

This also adds value for tourists who would drive up demand for products and services in areas identified as law-compliant, the labor chief added.

The Department of Labor and Employment recently declared tourist destinations Boracay and Guimaras islands as compliant with general labor and occupational safety and health standards.

The tourism agency has linked with the labor department to identify more tourist places in Central Visayas that are said to be compliant with labor laws, she said.

ENFORCEMENT

The Aquino government gave 372 new plantilla item positions for compliance officers to make sure the labor agency enforces all labor laws.

“Sabi po niya (President Aquino) the way we are going to implement the compliance of labor laws ay hindi magbubunga ng pagkawala ng mga trabaho na naibigay na sa mga empleyado,” she said.

The secretary also added the President directed her office that the way it enforces laws and social legislation should not be burden to investors and not discourage potential ones.

“Sabi din po niya na yung mga batas na kinakailangan igalang at kilalanin ang karapatan ng mangagawa ay siguraduhin na nai-implement sa tamang panahon,” she said.

The DOLE’s new compliance system encourages voluntary compliance with labor laws and labor-management cooperation.

“If you’re a labor law-compliant company, it’s good to your business,” she said.

The United States’ Department of Labor, through the International Labor Organization, recently granted the Philippines $1 million (P44.6 million) the strengthen the country’s labor inspection capacity. (FREEMAN)