TV stations, economic zones face labor compliance inspections

THE LABOR department said its priorities for compliance inspections include television networks, economic zones and security agencies.

In a statement on Thursday, the Department of Labor and Employment said “In Administrative Order No. 350, Labor Secretary Silvestre H. Bello III ordered the formation of a Special Inspection Team composed of 34 newly appointed Labor Inspection Auditors ( LIAs) to conduct inspection in the priority sectors.”

These labor inspectors will be supervised by Undersecretary Joel B. Maglunsod and OICAssistant Secretary Benjo Santos M. Benavidez. A Labor Inspection Audit Monitoring Team with representatives from the Bureau of Working Conditions ( BWC), Bureau of Labor Relations (BLR), Financial and Management Service ( FMS), Human Resource Development Service ( HRDS), Planning Service (PS), and Internal Audit Service (IAS) will assist the labor inspectors.

LIAs are set to inspect television networks first. DoLE added that besides the main operations the priority companies, “their contractors, subsidiaries, and affiliates, including field, provincial, and regional operations offices, will also undergo scrutiny and thorough inspection by the LIAs.”

DoLE said that after all inspections by the LIAs, DoLE Regional Directors will monitor the television networks’ compliance with the labor laws and standards.

“The conduct of mandatory conferences shall be consolidated at the DoLE National Capital Region. Thereafter, the DoLE NCR Regional Director shall lead in the conduct of mandatory conferences and issue compliance order,” DoLE said.

Security agencies and economic zones are up for inspection next.

Last month, Mr. Bello revealed that DoLE will release another list of companies suspected to be practicing or engaged in illegal contractualization. He said that he will focus on TV networks and hospitals in the list that will be submitted this July.