LABOR group Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU) called on the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) on Tuesday for more transparency in its probe on workplace fires, which resulted in the death of workers.
KMU issued the statement after the DOLE announced it will investigate the recent fire at the Manila Pavilion Hotel, an incident that killed five workers.
KMU Chairman Elmer Labog slammed the DOLE for issuing such a pronouncement without publicly revealing the results of its previous probes.
He cited the DOLE’s investigations of the fires at the NCCC-SSI mall in Davao in December 2017, the Resorts World Manila in Pasay in June 2017, the House Technology Industry in Cavite in February 2017 and the Kentex Manufacturing Inc. in Valenzuela in May 2015.
All of the aforementioned incidents resulted in the death of workers.
“Until now, no one has been held accountable for workplace tragedies that took place in the last few years,” Labog said in a news statement.
The labor leader added they hope this will not happen in the case of the Pavilion hotel amid reports it has committed occupational safety and health standards (OSHS) violations due to its defective sprinkler system.
Authorities are still validating the said report, but the hotel management had already issued a news statement denying the claim on Monday. “We demand justice for Waterfront Manila Pavilion workers, and all workers who died in workplace infernos. Impunity on workplace deaths must stop,” Labog said.
Aside from holding the hotel management accountable, KMU is also demanding for DOLE officials to be also held accountable for the deadly workplace fires for its “lethargic” implementation of OSHS.
Meanwhile, KMU also accused Malacañang of “fearmongering” after it preemptively suspended classes in response to the alleged threat of a transport strike from the Pinagkaisang Samahan ng mga Tsuper at Operator Nationwide (Piston).
Piston called the measure as “fake news,” since it stressed it did not schedule any transport strike on Tuesday.
Piston has conducted a series of transport strikes since last year to protest against the government’s ongoing modernization program for public-utility jeepneys.
“These tactics are a blatant attempt to discredit PUJ drivers and operators’ legitimate struggle for their livelihood,” Labog said.
“The clear objective is to lay groundwork to justify further violent attacks and retaliation against those who participated in the strike,” he added.