MANILA, Philippines - Labor group Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP)-Nagkaisa on Tuesday called on the government to hold the building owner and the project contractor liable for the death of 12 construction workers and the injury of several others when a wall collapsed on them Monday afternoon in Bulacan.
"Both the project owner and the project contractor are both liable for the deaths of the victims. This accident can be prevented, if not minimized, if these two are faithfully performing their duties and responsibilities in accordance with the occupational safety and health regulations and standards.
"There must be some kind of negligence on the safety regulations and standards that lead to the deaths and so they must be made answerable," Gerard Seno, executive vice president of the Associated Labor Unions-TUCP, said.
Seno said that by now, he expects the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) regional office is conducting a probe on the incident after ceasing work at the project site to prevent.
Government regulation requires project owners and contractors in all types of constructions work to have a construction safety and health program, ensure all workers have personal protective equipment, project safety personnel, emergency occupational health personnel and facilities, construction safety signages, construction safety and health committee, and workers' welfare facilities.
Seno noted that a separate charge must be slapped if the project owner and contractor also fail to comply with their obligations to pay the lawful regional wage including social protection benefits such as Social Security System, PhilHealth, Pag-ibig.
There is also a need for DOLE if the city or municipal engineer office inspected the project site for compliance on workplace safety standards before issuing the building permit and respond to reports the materials used are of poor quality, Seno said. - By Dennis Carcamo (philstar.com) |
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