DOLE urged to equip field inspectors with body cams

Senator Raffy Tulfo on Thursday urged the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) to equip its field inspectors with body cameras during inspections of companies to assess whether they are paying their workers adequately. 

During the Senate Committee on Labor, Employment and Human Resources Development hearing, Tulfo, who is the panel vice chairperson, lamented that some manufacturing companies do not implement the minimum wage hike, with workers still earning as low as P280 daily. 

“Ang suggestion ko Madam Chair at nandito si Secretary Laguesma, from now on, lahat ng field inspectors niyo, pagsuotin niyo ng body worn camera. Totoo ‘yan, body worn camera, para magkaalaman kung talagang ginawa ang trabaho o hindi,” he said.

(Madam Chair and Secretary Laguesma, my suggestion is that from now on, have all the field inspectors wear body-worn cameras. That's true, because the body worn camera would help find out if the field inspectors really do their work or not.) 

“Kasi pupunta doon ang field inspector, sa halip na titignan ang work area kung conducive ba para sa mga manggagawa ang work area nila, tapos ‘yung mga ginagawa nila kung tama ba, kung safe ba sila, etc. Walang ganon eh, wala man lang interview sa manggagawa, diretso kaagad sa HR. Pagdating doon sa HR, closed door…pag-uwi, may dala dala ng envelope na pagkapal-kapal,” he added. 

(Because some field inspectors will go to a company and instead of looking at the work area to see if it is conducive for the workers, if what they are doing is right and if they are safe, they just directly go to the HR to have a closed-door talk and go home with thick envelopes, without even interviewing the workers themselves.) 

Tulfo further warned the DOLE that he will seek to defer the agency’s proposed 2026 budget if the erring field inspectors are not removed from office. 

He also asked Laguesma to submit a list of field inspectors, particularly those assigned in Caloocan, Malabon, Navotas and Valenzuela or CAMANAVA, as he cited stories of alleged corruption among field-based DOLE employees. 

“Kapag nakita ko na naging tamad sila o wala silang ginawa sa kanilang inspeksyon o dinoktor nila, I want their heads. Sibakin. Punyeta, lintik na mga ‘yan. Mainit na ulo ko,” the senator expressed. 

(If I find out that they have been lazy, have not done their jobs, or just faked their assessments, I want their heads. I want them to get fired.) 

Laguesma acknowledged Tulfo’s manifestation and vowed to address the problem on the ground. 

“We commit to do, coordinate with the office of the good senator and provide him listing as he has expressed, Madam Chair,” the DOLE chief said. 

Panel chairperson Senator Imee Marcos, meanwhile, said that the DOLE’s budget for field inspectors should be increased to augment the workforce and hire those with expertise.  

“Minsan kung sino sino na lang ang inaatasan na maging inspektor, eh tulad ng sinabi niyo, madaling abutan at madaling sabihan o takutin. Kaya’t kailangan ‘yung mga lampas suhol talaga at kinakailangan talaga na magkaron ng mga inspektor of a higher standard who are more adept at manufacturing, engineering, mas alam ang chemical at iba pang health concerns,” Marcos said. 

(Sometimes, only random people are tapped to be an inspector, so they’re easily bribed and intimidated. That's why it's really necessary to get inspectors who have integrity, have higher standards, and who are more adept at manufacturing, engineering, chemicals and other health concerns.) 

In June, the DOLE announced that the National Capital Region (NCR) Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board (RTWPB) issued a wage order approving a P50 increase in the daily minimum wage.

It brought the daily minimum wage rate in Metro Manila from P645 to P695 for the non-agriculture sector, and from P608 to P658 for the agriculture sector, service, and retail establishments employing 15 or fewer workers, and manufacturing establishments regularly employing fewer than ten workers.—LDF, GMA Integrated News