The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) has discovered multiple violations of labor laws and occupational safety and health (OSH) standards at the collapsed building project in Angeles City, Pampanga.
DOLE Findings and Liabilities
Labor Secretary Francis Tolentino announced that building owner Ernest Jackson Lim and contractor Golden Years Construction and Steelworks Corporation were found liable after a thorough investigation. The DOLE ordered both parties to pay 57 affected workers a total of P1,102,798.50 within 10 days. This amount covers non-payment of wages during the work stoppage order, underpayment of wages, non-payment of rest day premiums, and non-payment of holiday pay.
Administrative Penalties
Additionally, the respondents were ordered to pay an administrative fine of P10,324,000 for multiple labor standards violations. These include non-payment and underpayment of wages and other statutory benefits, as well as serious health and safety violations such as failure to provide personal protective equipment (PPE), lack of permits to operate mechanical lifting equipment, and failure to deploy required OSH personnel.
Work Stoppage Order Violations
Tolentino revealed that workers continued construction activities despite a DOLE-issued Work Stoppage Order, exposing them to dangerous conditions that could lead to serious injury or death.
Incident Background
The proposed nine-story commercial building with a roof deck and pool collapsed on May 24. DOLE will endorse the case records to the National Bureau of Investigation and the Angeles City local government for appropriate action. Tolentino noted that criminal charges may be filed where applicable.
