BAGUIO CITY August 12 – A total of 89 representatives from 11 industries composed of employers, employees and government sector participated in the meeting of Provincial and City Tripartite Industrial Peace Council (PTIPC and CTIPC) that aims to strengthen and sustain labor and management’s peaceful and productive relationship on July 31, 2015 at the Department of Labor and Employment- Cordillera Administrative Region (DOLE-CAR) Conference Hall.
The objectives of the PTIPC and CTIPC are to, a.) Discuss relevant policy issuances on labor and employment such as compliance with General Labor Standards and Occupational Safety and Health Standards, b.) Come up with resolutions adopting agreements on issues and concerns within the industries, and c.) Come up with action plans to operationalize the formulated resolutions.
DOLE Regional Director Henry John S. Jalbuena explains that, “the strengthening of the TIPC is in accordance with Article 275 of the Labor Code, as amended, and the government’s commitment under International Labor Organization Convention No. 144, which are to foster harmonious labor- management relations and industrial peace, increase productivity and competitiveness of enterprises, and facilitate compliance with the law through tripartism.”
These eleven industries belong to the Construction, Academe, Tourism, Business Process Outsourcing, Manufacturing, Janitorial, Security Services, Utility, Hotel and Restaurant, Wholesale/ Retail, Services, and Cooperative or Finance sectors.
During the meeting, Mr. Augusto Aquillo, Board Secretary IV, Regional Tripartite Wages Productivity Board (RTWPB- CAR), discussed Wage Order No. 17-Minimum Wage Rates in the Cordillera. He emphasized that, “The proper interpretation and understanding of Wage Order 17 is first, this wage order is a protection for the minimum wage earners, and second, incentives can be given to performing workers that lead to improvements in company’s performance.”
Update on the Labor Laws Compliance System (LLCS) was also discussed. Mr. Rodel Dumlao, Labor Laws Compliance Officer (LLCO), mentioned that “the LLCS is a new system of the Department that aims to foster a culture of voluntary compliance with Labor Laws by all establishments nationwide. It is a mix of developmental and regulatory approaches to benefit micro, small, and medium enterprises and address existing rigidities while ensuring decent and productive work”. Mr. Dumlao educated the participants on the assessment process during visits to various establishments.
Lastly, a brainstorming ensued to discuss among industries their issues and concerns and crafted action plans to address said issues and concerns. These agreements were laid down in a resolution as basis for self-monitoring.