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Republic

of the

Philippines

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Quezon

City

Sixteenth Congress

First

Regular Session

HOUSE RESOLUTION NO.

_ _2

Q4

Introduced by

Gabriela Women's Party Reps. Luzviminda C Ilagan and Emmi A de Jesus,

Bayan Muna Reps. Neri J Colmenares and Carlos lsagani T. Zarate,

ACT Teachers' Party List Rep. Antonio L Tinio, Anakpawis Party List Rep. Fernando Hicap,

and Kabataan Party List Rep. Terry L Riden

A RESOLUTION

CALLING ON THE COMMITTEE

ON

L BOR AND EMPLOYMENT TO CO DUCT AN

INVESTIGATION, IN AID OF LEGISLATION, ON THE DEPARTMENT OF

BOR

AND

EMPLOYMENT'S ENFORCEMENT AND ADMINISTRATION OF L BOR LAWS,

INCLUDING,

BUT

NOT LIMITED TO, THE OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY A D

HE L

TH

STANDARDS, IN LIGHT OF THE DEATH OF EIGHT (8) FEMALE WORKERS TRAPPED

IN

A BURNING BUILDING ON MAY 30, 2014

IN

PASAY CITY

WHEREAS, eight (8) women working for Asia Metro Tech, Inc., an

el

ic gadgets

sweatshop, died after a fire engulfed the building where they work and stay ?a say City on

May 30, 2014. They failed to escape the burning building as the only door serves as

exit was padlocked by their employer. Media interviews with survivors revealed

at

other

workers escaped the fire only by destroying the iron grills and air-conditioni ent on the

second floor;

WHEREAS, this tragedy brought to light the continued lack

of

compliance of many

companies to the Occupational Safety and Health Standards (Standards) set by the

Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE);

WHEREAS, promulgated in 1978, the objective of the Standards is

to

protect every

workingman against the dangers of injury, sickness or death through safe and healthful

working conditions, thereby assuring the conservation of valuable manpower resources and

the prevention of loss or damage to lives and properties, consistent with national

development goals and with the State's commitment for the total development of every

worker as a complete human being ;

WHEREAS, DOLE is tasked with the administration and enforcement of the provisions of the

Standards. Among its duties and responsibilities as provided in Rule 1003.01 is the

inspection of every establishment or place of employment at least once a year to determine

their compliance with the Standards' provisions;

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WHEREAS one of the rules of the Standards violated by the Asia Metro Tech Inc. was Rule

1943.03, which states that at least two exits shall be provided in every floor and basement

of every workplace capable

of

clearing the work area in five (5) minutes . The discovery

of

this violation by DOLE as per its duty under Rule 1003.01 could have prevented the death,

or at the very least, minimize the casualties and injuries during the fire;

WHEREAS

media reports also revealed that Asia Metro Tech Inc. violated a number of

workers' rights. According to the workers, they were padlocked inside their rooms and were

not allowed to go out after work hours. They were allowed only three (3) days off every year

or once every four months. One survivor revealed to the media that they receive a measly

sum of PhP3,300.00 per month. These are in obvious violation

of

e Conditions

of

Employment set under the Labor Code of the Philippines, including but

J mited

to, Article

83 or the prescription on normal hours

of

work; Article

91

or the right to wee

y

rest day, and;

Article 99 or the provision on minimum wage;

WHEREAS

the death of 8 workers on May 30 was only the most rece - e long

l i s tv

accidents in the workplace all over the count . Some

of

the major cases o violations

of

workers' occupational health and safety accordin to the Institute for Oc:cupa anal Health

Safety and Development (IOHSAD) include the Novo ns and Shirts Company fire wl}ii.

killed 17 stay-in workers in Butuan City in May 2011; the Eton

wers ..accident

:KafCity

in January 2011 which left ten (10) dead; the Keppel Subic Shipyard accident in 2011

wherein five (5) workers died, and; the SPC Malaya Power Corporation acciden in 2013

which killed five (5) workers;

WHEREAS

according to IOHSAD, 126 workers died in work-related a - ts in the

Philippines in 2011;

WHEREAS the Philippines is among the world's worst countries for workers.

score of 5 in the 2014 Global Rights Index, a qualitative surveyed informatio

the International Trade Union Confederation which ranks countries from 1 (best o 5 st)

based on 97 workers' rights'. The ITUC Global Rights Index covers vi

oatio

s in 139

countries recorded from April 2013 to March 2014. According to the ITUC, co 1ries with

the rating of 5 have laws that cover rights workers but are not effectively access-ble, which

expose laborers to autocratic regimes and unfair labor practices ;

WHEREAS Article 162, Chapter 2, Title 1 of Book Four of the Labor Code states that

The Secretary

of

Labor and Employment shall by appropriate orders set and enforce

mandatory occupational safety and health standards to eliminate or reduce occupational

safety and health hazards in all workplaces and institute new and update existing programs

to ensure safe and healthful working conditions in all places

of

employment Likewise,

Article 165 of the same states that the DOLE shall be solely responsib e for the

administration and enforcement

of

occupational safety and health laws, regulations and

standards in all establishments and workplaces wherever they may be located.

WHEREAS occupational safety and health is a basic right of all workers. Article 3 or the

Declaration of Policy of the Labor o e states that The State shall afford protection to

labor, promote full employment, ensure equal work opportunities regardless of sex, race

creed, and regulate the relations between workers and employers. The State shall assure

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