DOLE lacks wage law inspectors

Assistant regional director of the Department of Labor and Employment Exequiel Sarcauga yesterday said that DOLE only has four inspectors in the province of Cebu to routinely inspect companies if they are complying with the rules and regulations of DOLE especially with regards to employees’ wages.

Sarcauga said yesterday in a press conference at the office of the Philippine Information Agency that one of the reasons why some companies failed to comply with the minimum wage which is P267 is because DOLE only has two inspectors in the province of Cebu and another two for the cities of Mandaue, Lapu-Lapu and Cebu to inspect them if they are indeed following the minimum wage rule of DOLE.

“Wa man gud ta ni-intensify sa atong routine inspection, towards the last quarter of 2009 nga nibalik ta sa atong inspection,” Sarcauga said.

He added that there are thousands of establishments yet to be inspected and also encouraged employees who are having problem with their employers to file a complaint against them so that they can do some actions.

Sarcauga also said the petition for the increase of the minimum wage is pending before the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board. However, the petition has yet to be discussed by the board if the merits are correct and if it is applicable to the region and to the city.

Meanwhile, DOLE and the Metro Cebu Tripartite Industrial Peace Council, plans to kick off this year’s Labor Day with activities commending the hard work and efforts of our workers, laborers and entrepreneurs.

MCTIPC, which is composed of the Tripartite Industrial Peace Councils of Cebu City, Mandaue City, Lapu-Lapu City and Talisay City, will conduct a caravan and solidarity run starting from Lapu-Lapu City and Talisay City at 6 a.m., simultaneously, and will converge at the Cebu International Convention Center in Mandaue City, for a Mass to be followed by a program.

Governor Gwendolyn Garcia will be present to deliver a speech.

Local and overseas job and livelihood fairs which are sponsored, respectively, by the Cebu City government and Cebu Provincial government will be held at the CICC and Cebu City Sports Center. A Business Process Outsourcing job fairs will be held separately at SM City Cebu care of DOLE-7.

According to Maria Grace Diaz, DOLE Cebu provincial director, applicants are encouraged to arrive early at the designated areas and bring the basic requirements needed for their application.

“Tabo sa Mamumuo”, a discount caravan, will also take place at CICC which will be sponsored by the RTWPB.

Sarcauga said this caravan will showcase products from direct entrepreneurs at discounted rates. There will also be raffle draws and prizes for the workers and laborers. – May April Jimenea and Debbie Acebu, UP Cebu interns/BRP