00:00Senate Committee Chair on Labor and Human Development, Rafi Tulfo, wants Dole Field Inspectors to don or wear body cameras in their worksite inspections to keep employers and inspectors honest during the entirety of the proceedings.
00:14This after Kamanava workers complained of not being duly compensated as our Merivel Custodio reports.
00:21I dared, Dole, na ipresenta sa akin yung pangalan ng mga field inspectors sa Kamanava because hiritin ko sa budget deliberation pagsisibakin mo ngayon.
00:37Senator Rafi Tulfo challenged the Department of Labor and Employment or Dole during the first hearing of the Committee on Labor, Employment and the Human Resources Development on the Proposed Wage Hike.
00:47This comes after the Senator received complaints about the workers in the said area not being paid properly.
00:54Yung dole nag-inspect, pumunta lang diretso sa opisina ng HR, paglabas may kasama ng envelope ng mga kapal, hindi man lang kinausap yung mga workers.
01:05Kung meron pong inspeksyon at hindi po kami masasabi natin na satisfied.
01:12Halimbawa po, meron mga nakakaabot na reklamo pero ang resulta po ng inspeksyon ay no violation finding.
01:19Ibabalidate po namin yan dahil maliwanag po na hindi siya tumutugma.
01:23Doon po sa mismong mga ikangay nagsasabi na mayroong mga paglabag sa mga umiral.
01:28Senator Rafi Tulfo suggested that Dole field inspectors wear body cameras or record videos during their inspection.
01:35He also warned that if corrupt inspectors are not removed and if they continue neglecting their duties, he will block Dole's budget for 2026.
01:44The Labor Department, meanwhile, expressed their commitment to further strengthen the inspection system for proper wage implementation.
01:51In line with this, the Senate hearing also tackled the proposed minimum wage increase and the establishment of a concrete basis for cost of living.
01:59The reality is that the difference in the cost of living across regions is really not that large.
02:06The National Capital Region currently has the highest minimum wage at 695 pesos per day for non-agricultural workers.
02:14The lowest is in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao at 411 pesos.
02:20That's more than 200 pesos less compared to Metro Manila.
02:24Dole laid out three standards in determining the minimum wage.
02:28This includes the needs of workers and their families, the capacity of employers to pay, and the requirements of socioeconomic and social living.
02:35But according to the senators, while food prices may be lowered in the provinces, fuel prices are often higher compared to Metro Manila.
02:43This is why aside from minimum wage hike, the committee is pushing to narrow the wage gap between Metro Manila and other regions to ensure that salary match the needs of Filipino workers.
02:53Vel Custodio for the National TV Network for a new and better Philippines.
