Byline: MARS W. MOSQUEDA JR.

CEBU CITY -- The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) in Central Visayas has discovered at least 50 establishments in Cebu who have violated labor laws, particularly the non-payment of minimum wages.

For the past five weeks, the DOLE 7 checked

This revelation came even as the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board (RTWPB) has halted its discussion on wage increase because several business firms complained that raising wages will mean the demise of several business in the region.

DOLE 7 assistant regional director Exequiel Sarcauga said the inspection blitz is part of the agency's monitoring program on companies' compliance on occupational safety and health standards.

In Metro Cebu, the daily floor wage is P241 which covers highly urbanized cities such as Cebu and Mandaue and the component cities of Lapulapu, Talisay, Toledo, and Danao as well as other nearby towns.

Sarcauga said the inspection effort is a nationwide campaign that is divided in three phases. The first phase will end by November, the second phase will start next year, and the third phase will begin by 2009.

Medium-sized establishments will be the focus of the inspection as firms under such category often violate labor standards on safety rules and regulations as set by the DOLE, reports said. Medium-sized companies are those that hire 10 to 199 employees.

For establishments with only less than 10 workers, the agency's approach is developmental in nature, which is done through the conduct of seminars. Most violations are trivial, such as poor ventilation or housekeeping problems, according to Sarcauga.

Large establishments on the other hand, with more than 200 workers are given the opportunity for self-assessment in order to comply with labor standards on occupational safety measures.

Sarcauga said the inspection blitz will take a long time as there are only three inspectors in the region.

The inspection is aimed at ensuring workers' safety and health in the workplace to prevent work-related accidents, as well as illnesses or injuries, Sarcauga further said.