‘Compliance zone’ unveiled at MEPZ-2

CEBU, Philippines – A "compliance zone" was unveiled yesterday in Mactan Economic Processing Zone-2 to signify strict adherence to labor laws by private companies operating inside the export zone.

"This is a reform program in which all of the companies are expected to require labor laws. This is new because it is the DOLE which will go to the companies and really help them in assesing their compliance to the labor laws," said Amabelle Abella, president of Human Resource Association in MEPZ-2.

There are three certificates of compliance that a company has to achieve in order to be qualified for the compliance zone,  according to Abella, and these are general labor standards, child-free labor laws and occupation labor laws.

She added that once the company is able to file the three COCs, a two-year validation of compliant zone is granted to the company. It will then be exempted under the DOLE's audit.

There are 38 companies in MEPZ 2 while MEPZ 1 in Barangay Ibo has over 100 establishments and will apply again for another COC next year, according to Abella.

Secretary Rosalinda Dimapilis-Baldoz of Department of Labor and Employment said this is the first compliance zone issued in Cebu. She said this will help augment the Philippines's reputation as an investment hub.

"In the area of labor, we are an industrial peace zone. With the thrust that we have adopted, ipa-prioritize namin ang foreign locators inside the zone and other than giving them the COC with validity of two years, all the zones will be declared labor law compliant," Baldoz said.

She explained that this is effective in helping each company's marketing strategy in the zone.