The Department of Labor and Employment-CAR confirmed there are various violations of the General Labor Standards committed by different commercial establishments in the central business district.
In a letter, Ezequiel Ronie Guzman, regional director of DOLE-CAR, informed the City Council that several commercial establishments along (sic) Maharlika Livelihood Center, Baguio City Market, Bayanihan Hotel, Abanao Square, and other commercial establishments violated labor standards such as:
Underpayment of minimum wage; non-payment of regular and special holiday pay; non-payment of rest day premium; non-payment of overtime pay; and non-membership of workers with the Social Security System (SSS), PAG-IBIG, and PHILHEALTH.
The letter was in response to a council resolution passed in July 2018 requesting the DOLE-CAR to inspect, verify, and correct violations of labor law standards and regulations in the aforesaid places.
Guzman explained the labor inspectors had difficulty establishing the identity of the employers because workers claimed the businesses are family owned and that the workplaces are rented and had no business permits.
Hoping to address the findings of their office, Guzman requested for a forum with the Sangguniang’s Committee on Employment, Livelihood and Cooperatives, and Persons with Disabilities currently chaired by Councilor Arthur Allad-iw.
The Legislative Monitoring and Evaluation Section of the Sangguniang Panlungsod made a follow-up on the matter and came up with the following recommendations:
To request the DOLE-CAR to intensify their information campaigns and advocacy to fill the significant gap in the awareness of workers and employers in the city on Labor Standard Enforcement Framework which was conceptualized in 2004; and
To urge the DOLE-CAR to enhance their Labor Inspectorate System to protect the interest and promote the welfare of workers in the city.**Jordan G. Habbiling with reports from Jackie Lou Rondez, Local Legislative Assistant
