Majority of employers in Ilocos Region are compliant to general labor standards (GLS).
This is revealed in the 2022 Labor Inspection Program results of the Department of Labor and Employment Regional Office 1, which was reported in the recently-concluded 2022 Yearend Performance Assessment held on January 23-24, 2023 in Binmaley, Pangasinan.
DOLE RO1 inspected a total of 2,506 establishments in 2022, resulting in 110% accomplishment rate from its target of 2,280 establishments.
Of this number, majority – or 86.71% — were found to be compliant to GLS.
DOLE Regional Director Exequiel Ronie A. Guzman said these numbers are reflective of the generally-healthy labor environment in the region.
“This shows that even when businesses and enterprises are still recovering from the economic impacts of the pandemic, employers are still mindful of their obligations to their workers,” RD Guzman said.
A total of 56,293 workers were covered in the inspection activities.
475 establishments inspected were in Ilocos Norte, 609 in Ilocos Sur, 538 in La Union, 280 in western Pangasinan, 322 in central Pangasinan, and 282 in eastern Pangasinan.
Most of the establishments inspected were micro (1-9 workers) at 1,331 establishments; small (10-99 workers) at 1,077; medium (100-199 workers) at 61; and large (200 and above workers) at 37.
Establishments are GLS-compliant when they are proven to observe minimum wage rates, social coverages (SSS, Philhealth, Pagibig), and other statutory monetary benefits.
In Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) standards, meanwhile, DOLE RO1 accounted 71.91% compliance rate in 2022.
“While this is at par the guiding compliance rate of 70%, improvements can be made. For 2023, we shall strengthen our efforts to ensure more establishments are compliant to OSH,” RD Guzman directed the inspectorate.
RD Guzman also set the agenda that for 2023, the DOLE RO1 shall prioritize to inspect medium and large establishments. He has also initiated talks with social partners, such as the SSS, to ensure sustainability of compliances.
“These are steps we take ahead. In February, our inspectors shall take part in the National Labor Inspection Summit, where amendments in the inspection guidelines are anticipated to be discussed,” said RD Guzman.
The 2022 Labor Inspection results also showed top non-compliance areas such as on overtime pay, holiday pay, and basic wage pay for GLS; and the absence of first aider, safety officer, and OSH program for OSH.
Last Updated on February 7, 2023 by Justin Paul Marbella