DOLE Reminds Kentex Officials to Attend Second Mandatory Conference

(PNA) — The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) is warning that the non-appearance of Kentex Manufacturing Corporation officials or their representatives in the second conference scheduled on Wednesday would mean that they are waiving their rights to be heard.

The DOLE conducted on Monday the first mandatory conference at the DOLE-National Capital Region (NCR) office in Manila, where the parties in the fire incident that killed 72 people were given the chance to air their side.

No officials or representatives of the footwear company were present in the May 18 meeting.

“Kentex Manufacturing Corporation did not attend the conference, despite receiving the official notice, as records of the DOLE-NCR would show. So the second conference is on Wednesday. If the company fails to attend, then it will be construed that it has waived its right to be heard,” said DOLE Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz in a statement.

Aside from Labor officials, representatives of CJC Manpower Services, sub-contractor of Kentex, were present in the initial mandatory conference.

On the other hand, Baldoz said that the occupational safety and health standards and health aspects will be the focus of the meeting on Wednesday so as not to duplicate parallel investigations by relevant government agencies.

“We are focused only on these two aspects, in the light of the many investigations on the accident looking into the enforcement, observance, and monitoring of compliance with, among other laws and regulations, the Fire Code of the Philippines; National Building and Structural Code; Philippine Electrical Code; Philippine Society of Mechanical Engineers’ Code; and the Local Government Code,” the Labor and Employment chief said.

A total of 72 people, mostly workers of the footwear factory, died when the two-story building was gutted by fire last May 13.

Baldoz had said that the direct employer (Kentex) faces possible liabilities and remedies and compensation, such as administrative liability, specifically solidary liability with the contractor or subcontractor (CJC) for any violation of any provision of the Labor Code; criminal liability, specifically, reckless imprudence resulting to multiple injury and multiple homicide; violation of the Fire Code; violation of the National Building Code; arson (if it is established that the factory owner/s started the fire); and criminal liability, under Art. 288 of the Labor Code for possible violation of labor standards, occupational safety and health standards, and social legislation.

“The company could also face civil liability, specifically, actual damages (medical expenses, etc.); moral damages; and exemplary damages,” she said. (PNA) SCS/FGP/EDS