DOLE to continue handling labor disputes in ecozones – Bello
The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) will remain the lead agency in handling labor-related cases in Philippine economic zones despite the proposed Alliance for Industrial Peace and Program Office (Aippo), said labor secretary Silvestre H. Bello III.
In a text message to BusinessMirror, Bello said that they maintain their authority over labor cases in Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA)-approved ecozones as “conferred by law” under the Labor Code (LC).
This statement was made to address the concerns raised by labor groups over Aippo which plans to transfer the jurisdiction of labor disputes to the Philippine National Police (PNP).
Over the weekend, labor coalition Nagkaisa and political party Partido Manggagawa (PM) said that the implementation of Aippo is a “threat to trade union rights” and will only worsen the working conditions of ecozone workers.
Both groups are also demanding the government to discard this proposed agency and respect the existing laws in regard to labor rights.
