THE Department of Labor and Employment is conducting an assessment of the different establishments to ensure they comply with the labor standards.
Regional Supervising Labor and Employment Officer Maria Elena Alabata said priority to be assessed are hotels, retail and wholesale trade, malls and fast food chains, hospitals, manufacturing establishments with expired Certificate of Compliance.
Alabata said covered by the assessment are the establishments located in Zamboanga and Isabela cities, and the provinces of Zamboanga del Norte, Zamboanga del Sur and Zamboanga Sibugay.
Alabata said the assessment is being conducted by the Labor Law Compliance Officers.
She said among the things being checked during the assessment include payment of minimum wage, benefits and other pays the workers must enjoy such as overtime and others.
Alabata said they also check the working area including the equipment being used by the establishments.
She added establishments with violations will be given the opportunity to be compliant and fines will be imposed to violators depending on the gravity of the violations.
The number of establishments to be assessed this year in the region is 1,425. Last year, the agency has assessed a total of 1,625 establishments. (Bong Garcia/VoxPop Philippines)