Labor office fails to inspect 14 bus firms

AMID the flip-flopping orders of the Supreme Court (SC) over the new bus pay scheme, the Department of Labor and Employment (Dole) said Thursday that it failed to inspect 14 bus firms during the first week of the implementation of Department Order (DO) 118-12.

Dole-National Capital Region (NCR) Director Alan Macaraya said that out of the 81 bus companies they have already visited, 14 did not push through.

“Either iba yung address na binigay, or they have transferred office, or they have refused to allow inspection,” Macaraya told reporters.

The DO 118-12 provides that Dole, Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB), the National Wages and Productivity Commission (NWPC), and the Metro Manila Development Authority have been tasked to inspect bus companies to ensure compliance.

With the order of the SC stopping the DO’s implementation already recalled, the labor official said they will now continue with their inspection on all the 158 bus compounds in the NCR.

As for those that have refused and will refuse inspection, Macaraya said they will not hesitate to file cases against them for impeding with the mandate of the government.

“(We will file a case) if it is necessary for us to send a message across to them that we cannot tolerate what they are doing,” said Macaraya.

Article 128 (a) of the Labor Code states that “the Secretary of Labor and Employment or his duly authorized representatives, including labor regulation officers, shall have access to employer’s records and premises at any time of the day or night... to question any employee and investigate any fact, condition or matter which may be necessary to determine violations or which may aid in the enforcement of this Code and of any labor law, wage order or rules and regulations issued.”

Article 128 (d) provides that “it shall be unlawful for any person or entity to obstruct, impede, delay or otherwise render ineffective the orders of the Secretary of Labor and Employment or his duly authorized representatives.”

Violators of the Labor Code, as provided in the law, shall be punished with a fine of not less than P1,000 and not more than P10,000 or imprisonment of not less than three months and more than three years. (HDT/Sunnex)