TWO subcontractors have been given until today to comply with labor standards, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) said.
Pamcore Steel Corp. and Top Glass and Aluminum Construction, subcontractors of SM Seaside City at the South Road Properties, were found employing minors in violation of labor laws.
They were issued stoppage orders on June 18 and the minors were removed from the construction site.
Exequiel Sarcauga, DOLE acting regional director, said the stoppage orders were conditionally lifted after the minors were sent home. The two companies were given until June 29 to submit other requirements in compliance with labor standards.
An assessment conducted by labor laws compliance officers Rustico Levi Custorio and Kenneth James Burbos showed that the two companies employed 17-year-old workers.
Rebecca Densing, regional Child Labor Protection and Elimination Program (CLPEP) focal person, and supervising labor and employment officer Efren Vito as well as Custorio and Burbos “rescued” three minors last June 19.
The three minors were natives of Kabankalan City, Negros Occidental; Bukidnon; and Balangiga, Eastern Samar.
The minor from Negros Occidental was placed on a bus at the Cebu South Bus Terminal (CSBT) for his hometown on June 19 while the minor from Eastern Samar was sent to Pier One Terminal on June 20.
They were to be fetched from the terminals by the labor officials in their regions. Pamcore shouldered the transportation expenses of the two minors.
The minor employed by Top Glass is staying with relatives in barangay Inayawan, Cebu City.
The two companies have promised to submit their Philippine Contractors Accreditation Board (PCAB) license and provide the social protection benefits of the minors, namely Social Security System (SSS), Philhealth and Pag-ibig.
A total of 15 construction companies have been issued stoppage orders for failure to secure Occupational Safety Health (OSH) certificates and comply with other requirements.
Luchel Taniza, DOLE information officer, said the stoppage order issued to Summit Homes and Building Products Co., Saycon Ventures Inc. and Loren Builder have been lifted.
Other construction companies were given conditional lifting certificates and allowed to continue operations provided they comply with the requirements within a given time frame. Others were forced to temporarily stop construction.
Taniza said most violations committed by construction companies include failure to provide safety gear to their workers like helmets and monkey ladders.