GENERAL SANTOS CITY (MindaNews/19 November) — The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) in Region 12 has penalized a total of 255 business establishments in the region during the first three quarters of the year for violation of the government’s labor standards.
Ofelia Domingo, DOLE Region 12 director, said such move was based on the inspections conducted by the agency’s personnel on 915 establishments in the region regarding their compliance with the general labor standards.
The local establishments were inspected for their compliance with the payment of holiday pays, cost-of-living allowance or COLA, overtime pay, rest day pay and service incentive leave pay.
It also covered their compliance with provisions on the wage of piece-rate workers; payments of night shift differential; anti-child labor law; and, coverage of social welfare benefits.
Domingo said the 915 establishments that they inspected represented 91.5 per cent of their annual target of 1,000 establishments.
“Of the establishments inspected, 660 or 72.10 percent were found compliant with the general labor standards,” she said.
In September alone, the official said they were able to cover 119 establishments within the region’s four provinces and five cities.
Region 12, which is also known as the Soccsksargen Region, comprises the provinces of South Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Sarangani, North Cotabato and the cities of General Santos, Koronadal, Tacurong, Kidapawan and Cotabato.
She said their accomplishment for the period covered a total of 8,363 workers of various local industries and business establishments.
“Out of 119 establishments, 30 were found violating the general labor standards. Four establishments were corrected at plant level with a total of P585,357 in payments benefitting 53 workers,” Domingo said.
Eleven establishments or 36.7 percent did not enroll their workers either with the Social Security System, Philippine Health Insurance Corporation or the Pagibig Fund, she said.
“On the other hand, 89 establishments or 74.8 percent were found compliant with general labor standards,” she added. (MindaNews)