Tolentino tinukuran sa mas maraming labor inspectors

Tinukuran ni House Committee on Labor and Employment Chairperson Rep. Jolo Revilla ng Cavite ang mungkahi ni Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Sec. Francis Tolentino na dagdagan ang mga labor inspector.
“Labor inspectors are the frontline guardians of workers’ rights. They ensure compliance with labor standards, occupational safety requirements, and workplace regulations. Their work helps protect workers from abuse while promoting a culture of compliance among employers,” ani Revilla.
Nauna rito, isiniwalat ng bagong Kalihim ng DOLE na hanggang sa papel lamang ang 1,210 na labor inspectors sa bansa dahil sa katotohanan ay 447 lamang ang kumikilos para inspeksyunin ang pinagtatrabuhan ng mga manggagawa sa 13 rehiyon sa bansa.
Dahil dito, hindi umano nadadalaw ng ahensya ang mga manggagawa para tiyakin ang kanilang kaligtasan at masiguro na hindi nalalabag ang kanilang kaparatan sa pagggawa.
“The figure speaks for itself. While DOLE may have 1,210 labor inspectors on paper, only 447 are actively conducting inspections in workplaces across the 13 regions. That number cannot be expected to effectively monitor the thousands of establishments operating nationwide. If we want stronger enforcement of labor laws, we must provide DOLE with the manpower and resources necessary to do its job,” ani Revilla.
Dahil dito, sinuportahan ni Revilla ang panawagan ni Tolentino na bigyan ng sapat na pondo ang ahensya para maparami ang mga labor inspector upang maiwasan ang mga aksidente tulad ng ginagawang gusali sa Pampanga.
Inayunan din ng mambabatas ang mungkahi ni Tolentino na magsanib puwersa ang DOLE at Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) para magsanay ng mga labor inspectors.
“Secretary Tolentino is showing a practical and innovative approach by tapping TESDA’s expertise in skills development and training. This can help accelerate the preparation of future labor inspectors while maintaining professional standards,” ani Revilla.
“That is why I fully support Secretary Tolentino’s call for a higher personnel services budget. We can train all the inspectors we want, but without funding for actual positions, the manpower gap will remain,” dagdag pa ng mambabatas.