Small enterprises now compliant with labor laws

CEBU CITY – Over 90% of micro enterprises in Cebu province are compliant with the labor laws, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) said.

Vivencio Lagahid, provincial director of the DOLE-Cebu, said the agency conducted technical and advisory visits (TAV) sessions on 805 micro businesses in the northern towns of San Remigio, Madridejos, Bantayan, Tuburan and Danao City.

Of the 805, 93.05# or 749 micro establishments were found to be labor-compliant. The remaining 56 micro establishments, which were found to have gaps in their labor standard policies, have sought assistance to rectify their deficiencies.

“The 56 MEs willingly revealed that they paid their employees below the minimum wage. So in their action plan, they were advised either to apply the prescribed wages in the region, register under the Department of Trade and Industry’s Barangay Micro Business Enterprise (BMBE), or apply for a wage exemption before the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board Region or RTWPB-7,” Lagahid said.

In the south of Cebu, the DOLE-Cebu said 91.16% of the 328 micro establishments in the towns of Alegria, Ginatilan, Balamban and Dumanjug were also compliant with labor laws while the remaining 29 have yet to comply with labor standards.

The TAV sessions provide micro businesses employing less than 10 workers or those family-owned businesses assisted by family members the idea on general labor standards under the Labor Code, occupational safety and health standards, productivity schemes, child and family welfare and other labor programs and social legislations.

Under the newly-issued Department Order No. 238 series of 2023, the Rules on the Administration and Enforcement of Labor Standards pursuant to Article 128 of the Labor Code, as renumbered, and Republic Act No. 11058, DOLE administers and ensures the enforcement of the labor standards and other labor laws through TAV, labor inspection and investigation. (John Rey Saavedra)