About 17 companies in the region have committed to act as “big” brother” to small and micro enterprises through the KAPATIRAN WISE-TAV project of the Department of Labor and Employment.
A memorandum of understanding was presented last Wednesday to Labor Secretary Rosalinda Dimapilis-Baldoz during the Social Partnership for Effective Labor Governance held at the Grand Men Seng in Davao City.
Baldoz witnessed the commitment shown by the companies in lending a hand to new and starting businesses, especially in catching up with labor standards.
The project is a Big Brother – Small Brother concept wherein large companies (Big Brothers) that are fully compliant with labor standards and are willing to share their resources and expertise, assist micro and small enterprises (Small Brothers) in improving their work conditions, particularly in the field of Occupational Safety and Health (OSH).
This will eventually enable the latter to comply with labor standards. The project also aims to empower the Small Brothers to share their experiences of workplace improvements with other micro and small enterprises.
DOLE 11 regional director Joffrey M. Suyao calls this a partnership that supports the goals and programs of the agency, paving the way for a stronger and unified labor sector.
Some of the big companies which committed to act as big brother are DOLE Stanfilco, Carmen Corrugated Container Inc., Stanfilco, Nakayama Technology, CJ Toyota Tsusho Phils. Inc., Therma Marine, DORECO, NCCC, Coca-Cola Bottlers Phils., SUMIFRU, and TADECO.
They will provide technical advice and assistance to the small brothers on how to improve their working conditions, increase the productivity of their workers and achieve compliance with the general labor standards and the occupational safety and health standards
The small brothers, on their part, will have to cooperate in full by attending safety meetings, trainings, workshops or seminars relevant and necessary to the KAPATIRAN WISE-TAV Project and commit to adopt a minimum of two (2) Small Brothers each for the next cycle of the said project.
The agency reported yesterday that the National Labor Relations Commission or the Regional Arbitration Branch handled 772 total labor dispute cases; 497 of which were disposed; 235 of those disposed were done by arbitration; while 154 were done through mediation or conciliation.
NLRC is bent to dispose 274 cases filed from June 31, 2011 and earlier as well as resolve all OFW cases within 60 days from the time of acquisition of jurisdiction over the persons of the respondents. The body targets to have this complete by yearend. [PIA 11 /Mai Gevera-Macapagat]
