DOLE suspends labor inspections until February

To prevent labor inspectors from engaging in bribery or gift solicitation during the holidays, the Department of Labor and Employment has suspended all labor inspection activities from December 1 to January 31. Routine inspections will resume on February 1, 2012, according to Administrative Order 490 issued Nov. 17, the DOLE said Saturday. “We have to affirm the integrity of the DOLE’s labor inspection process under the administration of President Benigno Aquino III, hence, this moratorium,” DOLE Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz said. Baldoz directed all DOLE regional directors to suspend all labor inspection activities in their respective regions. Included in the suspension are the conduct of Training and Advisory Visits and Self-Assessment Activities. The order also suspends implementation of Project LEAP (Labor Enforcement Action Program). Exempted from the suspension are:

•  Investigation of labor standards complaints which shall in all cases be speedily disposed of
•  Technical Safety inspections (mechanical equipment and electrical wiring installation
•  Urgent inspections that may be called for because of compelling circumstances, “in which case, the regional office concerned shall seek the approval of the Secretary of Labor and Employment before any such inspection/TAV activity may be conducted.”

During the suspension, the DOLE will dispose of all pending labor standards (LS) cases and the preparation of the Labor Standards Enforcement Program (LSEP) for 2012. The LSEP shall primarily ensure the effective continuation of the Department’s LS compliance monitoring program. LSEP shall include the following information necessary in determining the DOLE's projected 2012 inspection targets, including:

• total number of establishments targeted for regular/routine inspection
• total number of orientation courses to be conducted under TAV, with target participants/establishments
• total number of establishments for Self-Assessment
• targets for Technical Safety Inspection (TSI), including number of establishments/units to be inspected
•  names of labor inspectors, hearing officers, provincial/district heads and SEAD (Single Entry Approach Desk) officers, including their plantilla position, designation, and their areas of assignment
• master list of establishments for the three approaches.

— LBG, GMA News