Tuesday, July 10, 2007 Bizmen join forces v. trade fairs By Rimaliza Opiña
BUSINESSMEN belonging to the Baguio and Benguet Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Inc. (BBCCII) joined forces against the conduct of trade fairs in the city.
Because businessmen who participate in trade fairs do not spend for overhead expenses, BBCCII president Dennis Sy said even the seasonal operation of trade fairs affect regular and legitimate businesses because the products they sell are direct competitors of products sold in regular establishments.
Sy said only a small percentage of trade fair participants actually sell indigenous and unique products, adding that this violates a standing principle of the Baguio City Government that trade fairs must sell only specialty products.
Sy did not reveal what plans are being cooked up by the chambers' officers but stressed that concrete measures have to be done to protect the interest of legitimate businesses.
But the protection of legitimate businesses does not end with trade fairs. A group of SM concessionaires last year petitioned the City Government to take concrete action on the operation of night market vendors.
The City Government eventually transferred the hawkers to Harrison Road but after months of experimental operations, this was disallowed after the City Administrator's Office noted that the night market participants violated the rules set by the City Government.
Meanwhile, the BBCCII also opened their doors to an orientation on social management in support of the needs of their employees.
A social management system is the latest advocacy of the Employers Confederation of the Philippines (Ecop).
The group monitors compliance of employers on occupational health and safety standards as well as implementation of labor laws that mandate employers to abide by the remittance of contributions to the Philhealth, social security, taxes and compensation for overtime, holidays and night differential of employees.
Ecop research and advocacy manager Romeo Garcia said the social management system is a structured management standard that patterns its operations on the ideal work place and organizational structure, prescribed by occupational health experts as well as human resource managers.
Member-establishments of the BBCCII were one of the business groups in the country that underwent an SMS orientation.
The Ecop also conducts an assessment of personnel and employee concerns and based on this evaluation, recommends plans that could address issues raised by each party.
Businesses that fail to comply with mandatory remittances are likewise taught mechanisms on how to fulfill these obligations without matters having to reach the courts.
In seminars done by the Ecop, majority comply with the labor laws. However, in terms of occupational health, Garcia said the most complaints they encounter are those in the manufacturing business.
Garcia said the manufacturing businesses Ecop has visited fail to provide safety gadgets like helmets, gloves and masks, among others.
