PEZA urged to conduct swift, impartial probe on Cavite factory blaze

February 3, 2017

The Federation of Free Workers (FFW) Friday called on the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) to cooperate in the investigation to be conducted on the big  fire that gutted a factory inside the Export Processing Zone in Cavite.

The fire at the seven-hectare House Technology Industries which began Wednesday evening continued as of late Thursday.

In a statement, FFW president Sonny Matula said: ““The PEZA should immediately open its doors so that a thorough, transparent, and impartial investigation on the infernal fire might be conducted immediately."

Partido Manggagawa (PM) said they have been receiving reports of labor law and occupational health and safety standard violations being committed by HTI..

“Accidents are the result of unsafe acts and therefore preventable by strict enforcement of occupational safety and health and labor standards,” said PM chairman Rene Magtubo in a separate statement.

The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) has sent inspectors to find out if   HTI complies to basic employment, occupational health and safety standards.

PEZA exercises authority over companies within the zones.

The labor groups urged DOLE to make sure such tragedies does not happen inside economic zones, especially since majority of factory workers in the country are  employed there.

“Export zones should not be independent republics, where weak labor and safety rules lead to low wages, proliferation of contractualization, and unsafe working conditions. The DOLE should exercise its labor enforcement and inspection powers to the full within economic zones,” said Magtubo.

"The DOLE should strictly and diligently enforce occupational health and safety standards so as to avoid accidents of similar nature in the future," Matula added. DMS