DTI, DOLE sign guidelines on labor standards for garment exporters
The Department of Trade and Industry and the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) yesterday signed a Joint Department Order (DO) providing for the guidelines on the issuance, suspension or revocation of certificates of accreditation for garment firms to ensure these export-oriented firms comply with the international labor standards.
The accreditation certificate guidelines would cover garment manufacturers, exporters, and subcontractors who would want to avail of preferential tariffs under the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP). The said DO also creates a Workers’ Rights Review Committee.
DTI Secretary and BOI Chairman Ramon Lopez and DOLE Secretary Silvestre H. Bello III signed the Joint DO during the DTI-DOLE Directors’ Joint Assembly for Trabaho, Negosyo, Kabuhayan (TMK) yesterday at the Philippine Trade Training Center (PTTC) in Pasay City.
As part of the country’s commitment on complying with global labor standards for the garments and textile industries, the joint DO is a product of a series of consultative meetings of the two agencies with the Clothing and Textile Industry Tripartite Council (CTITC), and labor and employment sectors since 2010.
“Despite the changing landscape of global trends, the production of goods and services must still conform to international labor standards for market access. This order will help promote labor laws compliance and standards in the garment industry via certification and decertification mechanisms for companies who want to avail preferential tariff under the GSP,” Lopez said.
Bello, meanwhile, conveyed his appreciation to DTI for supporting the DOLE’s initiatives.
“The signing of the joint guidelines for the garments industry on the certification on labor standards compliance will ensure that are our workers have decent jobs, and that they enjoy the economic benefits that our participation in the global trade brings,” Bello said.
“This joint issuance serves as a proof of the Duterte ad ministration’s resolve to ensure that Filipino workers here and abroad can reap the just fruits of their honest labors even as their employers gain a reasonable return of their investments while ensuring business expansion and growth,” he added.
Under the Joint DO, the BOI will serve as the DTI Accreditation Board (DAB) that will grant Certificates of Accreditation mandatory for manufacturers, exporters and subcontractors availing tariffs under the Garments and Textile Import Services (GTIS) and voluntary for all other garment firms.
The accreditation is mandatory for those availing of privileges under the GSP and voluntary for all other garment firms. The accreditation is valid for three years from issuance, but may be suspended or revoked due to failure to comply with the labor minimum standards set by the DAB.
BOI serves as the DAB as the import-related functions of the former Garments and Textile Import Services (GTIS) — including accreditation of importers — were transferred to the agency through DTI Department Administrative Order No. 10-06, Series of 2010.
In addition, the Workers’ Rights Review Committee — composed of four members representing DTI, DOLE, the labor sector and the employers sector — will conduct an audit of the applicant’s compliance with labor standards as provided under Section 8.1 of the Joint DO. Its audit findings and recommendations will be submitted to DAB for review and evaluation.
The Joint DO serves as the pilot guideline on the GSP availment and when deemed successful, the DTI and DOLE will come up with similar guidelines for other sectors and industries.