The Department of Labor and Employment Bacolod District Office is aiming to inspect 1,680 business establishments in Bacolod City and Negros Occidental in line with the Labor Standards Enforcement Framework-Inspection Blitz launched by Secretary Arturo Brion early this month.

Agnes Capigon, head of Labor Standards Enforcement Unit, yesterday said they started the inspections of local establishments on July 10. The DOLE Bacolod District Office has seven labor inspectors, including one assigned for technical safety, each of whom are assigned to inspect 12 establishments per week.

"We continue to evaluate the effectivity (of the inspections). There may be changes as we go along," she said. The labor inspections, which will last until November, seek to ensure compliance of business establishments to core labor standards, including minimum wage; Emergency Cost of Living Allowance; 13th month pay; holiday pay; service incentive leave; Social Security System, Pag-IBIG, and PhilHealth benefits; and contractualization.

The DOLE central had earlier announced that 3,840 business establishments will be inspected in Western Visayas.

Roberto Montelibano, president of Metro Bacolod Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said he welcomed the labor inspections to also protect the rights of business owners.

"It's their (DOLE) right, but it (inspections) should be done regularly," he said. "That should be part of the continuing program (of the DOLE), and should not be implied as a threat." The LSEF-Inspection Blitz, which is set for three years from 2007 to 2009, started with the first phase from July 2 to November 30 this year, covering 50,640 establishments nationwide.

The second and third phases will be initiated in 2008 and 2009. The first phase includes security and manpower agencies, malls, restaurants/fastfood enterprises, cooperatives, construction sites, manufacturing firms and highly-hazardous establishments.*NLG

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