TARLAC CITY -- Luisita Industrial Park in Tarlac City on Friday took the distinction as the very first economic zone in the country to be a Labor Law Compliant Eco-zone, thus posing a tough act for other economic zones all over the country to follow.
"This is a memorable and a historic moment," said Labor and Employment Secretary Rosalinda Dimapilis-Baldoz as she led in the unveiling of the marker at the gate of the economic zone that reads: "This is a Labor Law Compliant Zone," to the delight of the Department of Labor and Employment (Dole) and Luisita Industrial Park officials, management and workers' representatives, and guests.
Undersecretary Rebecca Chato, head of the Dole's Labor Relations, Social Dialogue, and Internal Affairs Cluster, Dole-3 Regional Director Atty. Ana Dione, Assistant Regional Director Geraldine Panlilio, Bureau of Working Conditions Director Atty. Catherine Legados-Parado, Occupational Safety and Health Center Executive Director Ma. Teresa Cucueco, Luisita Industrial Park Administrator Martin Cojuangco, Luisita Realty Corporation General Manager Oliver Timbol, Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) Zone Manager Engr. Primitivo Napeñas Jr., and labor leaders witnessed the unveiling of the marker.
"The unveiling of this marker is part of our continuing effort to foster a culture of voluntary compliance with all labor laws following the directive of President Benigno S. Aquino III to the Dole to ensure that all labor laws that provides protection and benefits to our workers are implemented and carried out. This is part of our reform program, the new Labor Laws Compliance System (LLCS)," Baldoz explained during the short program preceding the ceremony.
"The fact that Luisita Industrial Park is located in the President's home province makes this marker-unveiling event doubly significant," she said, adding that the Luisita Realty Corporation, administrator of the eco-zone, has also been found compliant and was issued a Certificate of Compliance on General Labor Standards (GLS), Occupational Safety and Health Standards (OSHS), and Tripartite Certificate of Compliance with Labor Standards.
Baldoz congratulated the management and workers of the eco-zone and of the locator-firms.
"I congratulate you for this milestone. This marker that we unveiled today is testimony to your commitment to voluntarily comply with all labor laws, which is good for business. My sincere hope is that other economic zones and their locator-companies will realize the beneficence of compliance and follow fast your lead," Baldoz said.
A Special Economic Zone, Luisita Industrial Park has nine locator-firms, five of which are registered with the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (Peza), while four are registered with the Luisita Industrial Park. The nine companies have a combined employment of 9,167 workers.
The nine locator-firms in the Park are San Miguel Foods; Jentec Storage; International Electric Wires Phils. Corporation; Universal Robina Corporation; Pioneer Hi-Bred Philippines, Inc.; Phelps Dodge Phils.; SDE Philippines Corporation; On Semiconductor; and International Wiring Systems.
Of these companies, three--International Wiring Systems, Inc.; Universal Robina Corporation; and International Electric Wires Phils. Corporation--are unionized.
The locator-firms, according to Baldoz, are 100 percent labor law-compliant and have been issued Certificates of Compliance (COC) on GLS and OSHS, which have a validity of two years, and exempt their holders from the Dole's annual assessment during the said period.
Also, six of the locator-firms have been awarded a Tripartite Certificate of Compliance with Labor Standards (TCCLS).
Two of the six TCCLS were previously issued and are still valid, while four TCCLS were issued only on Friday. The new firm-awardees of the TCCLS are San Miguel Foods, International Electric Wires Philippines Corporation, Luisita Realty Corporation, and Phelps Dodge Philippines.
"The two existing TCCLS holders-- International Wiring Systems and On Semiconductor--deserve a special mention for they were the very first ecozone locators in the Luisita Industrial Park to be tripartite-certified," Baldoz said.
On Semiconductor was yet again given another citation as a Child Labor-Free Establishment (CFLE) for its full commitment in maintaining its policy in prohibiting any form of child labor within its company, as well as its subcontractors/service providers.
In the region, the Tripartite Certification of Compliance (TCC) Validation Team who audited the said TCCLS awardees comprise of officials the Central Luzon Tripartite Industrial Peace Council (CL-TRIPC) which include Vice Chairperson for Labor - Allan Del Rosario, Vice Chairperson for Management - Rose Manota, Treasurer - Mia Edith Gabriel, and Auditor - Rod Angeles.
"The TCCLS award brings these six companies a step closer to the Dole Secretary's Labor Law Compliance award and the Tripartite Seal of Excellence award—the highest honor given by the department," said Baldoz.
Baldoz cited that all of the 20 contractors and subcontractors of the locator-firms have been certified compliant with General Labor Standards and were issued COC.
The 20 contractors and subcontractors are 5M Star Builders, Inc.; Prestige Manpower and Services; Philippine National Guard Security Agency, Inc.; Starboard Manpower Services, Inc.; JFBI Security Agency; The Clean Company, Inc.; Ako Ikaw May Ari ng Kooperatiba; Romac Services and Trading Co., Inc.; Staffers Labor Service Cooperative; Corps Security Agency, Inc.; Asia Pro Cooperative; Synex Security Agency; 4th Dimension Coop; Environmental General Services, Inc.; Ebecor Corporation; Polystar General Services; Servicio Filipino; DYN Megaton; Domell Manpower Services; and Great Star Security Services, Inc.
In her message, Baldoz said the Luisita Industrial Park, as a Labor Law Compliant Eco-zone, will continue to be provided by the Dole with technical assistance to maintain its status, including, but not limited to, the Dole's Productivity Toolbox programs and services.
On its part, the Luisita Realty Corporation and the locator-firms, through a Memorandum of Commitment with the Dole, committed to sustain its status by working closely with the Dole on the implementation of its appropriate programs and services for the benefit of the eco-zone's locators. (PR)