The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) has accused
Kentex Manufacturing Corp., a manufacturer of rubber slippers in Barangay
Ugong, Valenzuela City, of violating the Labor Code for engaging the services
of a non-DOLE registered subcontractor.
“I need to
say this in the wake of this deadly fire accident. The company has engaged, and
is engaging, the services of an illegal subcontractor, a violation of the Labor
Code, and therefore, it is responsible for the subcontractor’s workers,” said
Labor and Employment Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz.
According to
an initial report of DOLE-National Capital Region (NCR) Director Alex Avil, the
subcontractor, CJC Manpower Services, holds office in Meycauayan City, Bulacan.
CJC was formerly Panday Management and Labor Consultancy.
CJC had 104
workers deployed at Kentex at the time of the fire accident. Avila noted that during the time of the
DOLE’s assessment of Kentex on March 3 last year, there were no CJC workers in
the factory. Kentex apparently engaged CJC after it was jointly assessed and
issued a corresponding Certificate of Compliance (CoC).
Avila pointed
out that the footwear company also employed piece rate workers, whom it
directly hired and not deployed by CJC. This issue will be covered in the
investigation.
On the other
hand, the DOLE has already summoned the management of Kentex and CJC Manpower
Services to a mandatory conference on Monday, May 18, at the DOLE–NCR.
Meantime,
International Labor Organization (ILO) Director-General Guy Ryder said in a
statement: “We can make workplaces safe by improving working conditions in
factories, including carrying out regular inspections to ensure that factories
comply with structural, fire and electrical safety; and by ensuring workers’
rights, especially freedom of association and collective bargaining.”
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