NCMB Spearheaded MOA Signing Between DOLE and PEZA

 

            To further strengthen the collaboration between the Department of Labor & Employment (DOLE) and the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA), a Memorandum of Agreement was signed between DOLE Secretary Patricia A. Sto. Tomas and PEZA Director General Lilia B. De Lima.  The agreement shall be a catalyst that will define the coordination and cooperation of the DOLE & PEZA in the enforcement of labor laws and social legislations in the economic zones.

 

            Also included in the signatories were DOLE Undersecretaries Manuel G. Imson and Luzviminda G. Padilla and PEZA Deputy Director General Mary Harriet O. Abordo.

 

            The MOA signing was spearheaded by the National Conciliation and Mediation Board (NCMB) thru the efforts of Executive Director Hans Leo J. Cacdac.  Under the agreement, the NCMB shall be involved in providing immediate counseling, conciliation and mediation services to contending parties in labor disputes that may arise within the zones in coordination with the Industrial Relations Division of PEZA in its different locations.  Labor-management education and capability awareness building shall be coordinated with the Bureau of Labor Relations while the implementation of labor laws and occupational safety shall be in coordination with the Bureau of Working Conditions of DOLE.  The NCMB and PEZA shall exhaust all means to settle the disputes amicably and shall jointly facilitate consultation meetings among workers and locators. 

 

            In a message delivered by DOLE Secretary Sto. Tomas, she said that she welcomed this kind of agreement, since it will allow more possibilities of collaboration.  “DOLE’s presence in the zones thru the MOA will help ensure the proper implementation of labor standards by Zones Officers and Officials”, she said.  Furthermore, she stressed that, “DOLE commits to sustain the industrial peace obtained by the ecozones because it recognizes the export zones in the Philippines as the primary generators of employment in the country.”  

 

            Director General Lilia B. De Lima, on the other hand expressed her sincere thanks to DOLE for helping them in resolving labor problems in the zones.  “PEZA believes in conciliation as a mode of settling disputes”, she added.

 

            A Technical Working Group shall be created under the MOA between DOLE and PEZA to formulate the implementing guidelines of the agreement.   Venus Iturralde