Benefits elude 85,000 workers

Over 85,000 workers nationwide are underpaid and are not enjoying mandated benefits despite government efforts to strictly enforce labor standards.

Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) records show that a total of 85,067 workers were affected as a result of non-compliance with general labor standards.

The affected workers comprised 51 percent of the total employment in the total 9,223 commercial establishments inspected by DOLE in the first quarter of the year. Of the number, 7,432 establishments were inspected for compliance with general labor standards while 1,791 were inspected on technical safety.

DOLE inspection indicated that 47.3 percent of the companies inspected were found violating labor standard regulations. A significant number or 20.5 percent of the establishments were found not providing their workers with the mandated minimum wage.

But labor officials said higher number of firms or 52.7 percent of the total inspected commercial establishments were found complying with general labor standards.

The figure of compliance with general labor standards was higher than the 47.3 percent of the compliance rate recorded last year. — Mayen Jaymalin