195 workers in Or. Mindoro receive their ‘back wages’

By JUANCHO R. MAHUSAY

CALAPAN CITY – The Department of Labor and Employment here has announced that some 195 workers in Oriental Mindoro have received their back wages as of this time based on voluntary visits conducted by DOLE in the whole province and the implementation of its Labor Standards Enforcement Program (LSEP).

 According to DOLE-Region 4B (MIMAROPA) Director Ma. Zenaida Eusebia A. Angara-Campita, the implementation of LSEP in the first five months of 2013, which was conducted by DOLE MIMAROPA Labor Inspectors, it covered some 294 establishments in Oriental Mindoro, particularly in Calapan City and Puerto Galera areas as subjects of their routine inspection.

Said establishments claimed total employment of 3,980 and identified with economic activities such as service entities, including hotels and restaurants (38.4%), security agencies (13.9%), manpower and/or janitorial services (3.7%), construction contractors and/or subcontractors (2.3%) and others including wholesale and/or retail trading (41.7%).

As a result of these DOLE’s visits, 28 establishments or 9.5% of the total inspected were applauded for having no violation on labor standards while 68 or 25.56% of the total establishments found out to have deficiencies on standards on wages, and wage-related benefits were reported to attain voluntary compliance.

Thus, Campita said the voluntary compliances bring benefit to a total of 195 workers through their receipt of back wages in the amount of P361,146.56 or P1,852 for each worker, on average.  She added that aside from the back wages, daily wage rate of these workers were adjusted to prescribed minimum rate according to the latest Wage Order No. RO IV-B-06, which took effect last February 1.

Meanwhile, 19 inspection results were converted into labor case for failure of the employers to effect correction at a given time.  Of these, six were dismissed due to amicable settlement and 13 were served with compliance order by Campita with computation of back wages in the amount of P436,814.11 affecting 31 workers.

At present, there are 179 establishments pending correction at plant level at the care of DOLE Oriental Mindoro Field Office headed by Engr. Juliana Ortega.  Inspections of establishments in other provinces of the region are also being conducted with the same efforts as in Oriental Mindoro.