DOLE suspends inspections during Christmas, New Year

MANILA, Philippines - To minimize, if not eliminate, opportunities for irregularities by labor inspectors, Labor Secretary Rosalinda Dimapilis-Baldoz has suspended all inspection activities during the Christmas and New Year holidays.

In Administrative Order 490 Series of 2011, Baldoz said the suspension takes effect from Dec. 1, 2011 to Jan. 31, 2012. 

“We have to affirm the integrity of the Department of Labor and Employment’s (DOLE) labor inspection process under the administration of President Aquino, hence, this moratorium,” Baldoz added.

In the order, Baldoz specifically directed DOLE regional directors to suspend all labor inspection activities in their respective regions, including the conduct of Training and Advisory Visits and Self-Assessment Activities.

The order also suspends implementation of the Labor Enforcement Action Program.

But the labor chief had exempted some activities like “investigation of labor standards complaints which shall in all cases be speedily disposed of; Technical Safety inspections (mechanical equipment and electrical wiring installation); and urgent inspections/TAVs that may be called for because of compelling circumstances in which case, the regional office concerned shall seek the approval of the Secretary of Labor and Employment before any such inspection/TAV activity may be conducted.”

A statement showed that during the inspection, “the period of suspension will be utilized for the disposition of all pending labor standards cases and the preparation of the Labor Standards Enforcement Program for CY 2012, which shall primarily ensure the effective continuation of the Department’s LS compliance monitoring program.”