Labor Center slams DoLE for inaction on wage violations

“If hundreds of cases of wage violations were happening right under the nose of the Department of Labor and Employment (DoLE) whose main office is in the National Capital Region (NCR), what more for the situation of our brothers and sisters who are in far flung areas of the archipelago?”

This was made today by the Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU) Labor Center reacting to the reports released by as DoLE-NCR acting director Raymundo Agravante citing more than 500 cases of violations by employers by non-compliance to the existing minimum wage and non-payment of holiday pay and emergency cost of living allowance (ECOLA).

“Those companies are engaged in large scale robbery. Workers are being robbed twice. First the remuneration for workers is less than what the value they create through their labour-power and second, the already diminished wage is again slashed by non-compliance to existing wage level. They are stealing food for our table, clothes for our children and a proper roof for our families. The DoLE's inaction has made them a witting or unwitting accomplice to these crimes against workers and they should also be held accountable,” said Elmer “Ka Bong” Labog, National Chairperson of the KMU.

Agravante released a 7-page report detailing that from January-July of this year, 245 commercial establishments in the NCR did not pay their workers the minimum wage while almost 300 firms did not provide holiday pay or ECOLA. According to the acting director, despite the violations, the DoLE made no punitive action against the companies.

“We wonder how 59 workplace inspectors can cover more than 700,000 firms scattered across the islands? The very low coverage of workplaces increases the room for violations, not to mention the many under the table dealings between corrupt officials and management of companies. In cases of actions against companies, it is basically 'slap on the wrist' with companies paying small fines,” opined Labog.

According to the labor leader, the DoLE have proven time and again to be an enemy of the workers. “It was the DoLE Secretary Patricia Sto. Tomas who issued the Assumption of Jurisdiction (AJ) Order against the workers of Hacienda Luisita which lead to the massacre of 7 striking workers. The DoLE has failed to implement the Supreme Court decision upholding the Toyota Motor Corporation Philippines Workers Association (TMCPWA) as the sole bargaining agent for the workers of Toyota Motor Philippines, the Supreme Court decision upholding the position of the United Filipro Employees-DFA-KMU that retirement benefits should be included in the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), to mention a few.”

“The DoLE has also proven unable to protect the workers against labor rights violations like union busting and other unfair labour practices, harrassment and physical attacks against workers and labor leaders. In 2006 alone, 33 workers have been killed along with many suffering attacks during strikes and protest actions. The International Labour Office has asked for the DoLE to facilitate a high-level mission to the Philippines but they refused to do so,” stated Labog.

The KMU vowed to push for the approval of the PhP 125 across-the-board wage hike which has been refiled at the Lower House.