(CNN Philippines) – Malacañan on Sunday (May 17) emphasized the need to change the existing regulations on job safety and health following the tragic fire in Valenzuela City last Wednesday (May 13) that killed at least 72 people.
In a radio interview over state-run dzRB, Presidential Communications Secretary Herminio “Sonny” Coloma, Jr. said: “We reiterate the strong stand taken by the government through the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) on the need to criminalize non-compliance with laws and regulations pertaining to occupational safety and health.”
The existing law on occupational safety and health was last enacted in 1978 and carries no criminal penalties, according to Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz
“We urge our lawmakers to seriously see our plea for the enactment of these measures in a positive light, and that is for the ultimate welfare and protection of our workers, and the delivery of labor justice by punishing heartless employers,” said Baldoz.
A special meeting between DOLE, officials of Kentex Manufacturing Corporation, the company that owns the gutted slipper factory and warehouse in Valenzuela City, along with its subcontractor, CJC Manpower Services is set on Monday (May 18). The DOLE and its attached agency, the Employees Compensation Commission (ECC), are looking into the needs of the families of the victims of the fire.
“According to Secretary Baldoz, they will assist the families of those who perished in the fire in facilitating their claims for benefits such as loss of income benefit, funeral and death benefits. Those who were injured can also claim medical reimbursements under existing labor laws,” said Coloma.
Based on initial DOLE findings, CJC is an unregistered subcontractor. Unscrupulous employers reportedly turn to subcontracting some services to avoid complying with minimum wage laws and other government-mandated compensation and benefits.
An inter-agency task force composed of the Department of Interior and Local Government, Bureau of Fire Protection, Department of Justice, National Bureau of Investigation, DOLE, and the Department of Health has been directed to conduct a thorough investigation on the deadly Kentex factory fire to determine security and safety lapses and to recommend the filing of appropriate charges based on its findings.
Financial aid
On Saturday (May 16), Kentex management gave P13,000 in salary and financial assistance to some of the families of the 72 workers who died in the fire as well as some of the survivors.
“Across the board P8,000 regardless of their rank status… plus we included an amount of P5,000 for our initial cash assistance for them,” said Kentex’s legal representative Atty. Renato Paraiso.
About 219 people were able to receive assistance, according to the Kentex staff in charge of distributing the cash aid.
Brian Poe contributed to this report.
