DOLE lauds ‘landmark’ workers’ safety law

The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) on Wednesday lauded President Rodrigo Duterte's signing of a law that aims to ensure safety and health standards in the country's workplaces.

"This augurs well for the DOLE as it continues to ensure that labor standards and occupational safety and health are upheld at all times in workplaces,"  the department said in a statement.

"This is a landmark legislation aimed at the full well-being of our workers," it added, saying that the administration will keep working to protect workers' rights and welfare.

The president recently signed Republic Act No. 11058, or An Act Strengthening Compliance with Occupational Safety and Health Standards (OSHS), which imposes penalties of up to P100,000 in fine against erring employers for each day of non-correction of violation.

This measure stipulates a worker's rights to safety and health at work, to refuse unsafe work, to report accidents, and to personal protective equipment (PPE).

It also requires employers, contractors, subcontractors, or other persons occupying managerial or supervisory posts to:

• furnish the workers a place of employment free from hazardous conditions;
• give complete job safety instructions or orientation to all the workers;
• inform the workers of the hazards associated with their work;
• use only approved devices and equipment for the workplace; and
• comply with OSH standards including the provision of protective and safety devices such as PPE and machine guards.

The DOLE said it now looks forward to the law's full compliance after it has crafted the measure's Implementing Rules and Regulations within the next 90 days.

"We believe that our collective efforts in ensuring a safe and healthy workforce will ultimately redound to greater competitiveness and higher productivity," it said. — BM, GMA News