THE Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) has suspended all labor inspection activities this month to focus on resolving all pending labor standards cases and prepare the inspection program for 2025, Labor Secretary Bienvenido Laguesma revealed.
Laguesma said the order directs DOLE regional directors to temporarily cease all labor inspection activities in their respective regions starting Dec. 1 until the second week of January 2025.
He added however, that exempted from the order are complaint inspections such Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) standards investigations; technical safety inspections, such as inspection of boilers, pressure vessels and mechanical and electrical wiring installation; and other inspection activities.
The agency recorded an initial compliance rate of 78.08 percent on general labor standards, 53.96 percent on OSHS and 94.49 percent on minimum wage.
The compliance rate rose to 88.24 percent on general labor standards and 72.61 percent on OSHS after the inspected establishments implemented the necessary corrections.
Among the notable violations of general labor standards pertain to record-keeping, Pag-IBIG Fund coverage and remittances and coverage for Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) and Social Security System (SSS).
Common violations of OSH include the absence of first aiders, safety officers, fire safety inspection certificates, registration of establishment, and formulation of the company OSH program.
