Group calls on gov’t, HTI to reveal findings on Cavite fire incident

The Institute for Occupational Health and Safety for Development (IOHSAD) on Sunday called on the officials of both the government and the House Technology Industries Pte. Ltd. (HTI) to investigate and reveal findings on the fire which injured more than 100 people.

"We challenge the HTI management to open its records and factory gates to the media and public. Allow workers to be interviewed and give their testimonials and full account of the fire," the IOHSAD said in a statement uploaded on its Facebook page.

It was referring to the recent fire which hit the HTI factory at the Cavite Economic Zone in Rosario, Cavite, which left more than 100 people injured. The local government has already declared a state of calamity.

One of the injured employees has died in hospital while being treated for severe burn wounds.

The IOHSAD also called on Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III to include non-government organizations in ongoing investigations, and make their findings public.

"We challenge Department of Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello to include labor centers and other cause-oriented groups who have initiated fact-finding missions in conducting a thorough investigation of the HTI fire," the statement read.

"Meetings among all the agencies involved should be made public and participation of workers and labor groups should be ensured," it added.

The IOHSAD also urged the Senate to act on House Bill 64 which was approved by the House or Representatives in December.

According to IOHSAD, the recent fire "makes it urgent" to pass a measure which will mandate the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) to inspect all establishments, including workplaces in ecozones, and disallow any form of employer =-discretion based compliance with Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) laws.

The bill also proposes stiffer penalties, as officials of companies who violate OSH standards will face imprisonment. —Jon Viktor D. Cabuenas/ALG, GMA News