Labor inspections suspended this December: DOLE

Meanwhile, Laguesma encouraged the DOLE regional offices to conduct regional training activities, such as Level 1A: Basic Course for Labor Inspectors, during the period of suspension. (File Photo: Jerome Sajise, IPS via Department of Labor and Employment – DOLE/Facebook)

MANILA – The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) on Tuesday announced that there will be no labor inspection activities in December.

In Administrative Order No. 342, Labor Secretary Bienvenido Laguesma said the suspension will be implemented as they want to focus on attending to all pending labor standards cases for the year and preparing the inspection program for 2023.

The order directs DOLE regional directors to temporarily cease all labor inspection activities in their respective regions starting Dec. 1.

Meanwhile, exempted from the order are complaint inspections; Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) standards investigations; technical safety inspections, such as inspection of boilers, pressure vessels and mechanical and electrical wiring installation; and other inspection activities as directed by the DOLE Secretary.

As of Oct. 31, a total of 74,945 establishments were inspected by the DOLE’s labor inspectors.

The initial compliance rate is 78.08 percent on general labor standards, 53.96 percent on OSHS, and 94.49 percent on minimum wage.

After the inspected establishments have implemented the necessary corrections, the compliance rate is at 88.24 percent on general labor standards and 72.61 percent on OSHS.

Among the notable violations of general labor standards pertain to record-keeping, Pag-IBIG Fund coverage and remittances and coverage for Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) and Social Security System (SSS).

Common violations of OSH include the absence of the first aider, safety officer/s, fire safety inspection certificate, registration of establishment, and formulation of the company OSH program.

Meanwhile, Laguesma encouraged the DOLE regional offices to conduct regional training activities, such as Level 1A: Basic Course for Labor Inspectors, during the period of suspension.

“This is to ensure that the labor inspectorate is updated with the latest issuances and are highly skilled and equipped to perform their duties in enforcing labor laws and OSH standards,” he added.