Union opposes police clearance requirement for DoLE dealings
THE Philippines’ largest union said a police clearance requirement for transacting with the Department of Labor and Employment (DoLE) would represent an “added burden” for workers, hindering the resolution of labor cases.
In a statement Thursday, the Associated Labor Unions-Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (ALU-TUCP) said the proposal, made by the head of the Philippine National Police (PNP), Debold M. Sinas, involves obtaining a National Police Clearance to conduct dealings with DoLE.
“From the looks of it, the proposed police clearance in DoLE transactions would further delay the injustice among aggrieved workers and would drive away those seeking redress in DoLE’s conciliation, mediation and dispute resolution and workplace inspection processes and many other services,” according to ALU-TUCP National Executive Vice-President Gerard R. Seno.
Adding a bureaucratic layer to these processes will mean additional costs for workers. Mr. Seno said industrial peace processes are necessary “to make our economy productive and competitive.”
A letter dated March but released to the public this week outlined the PNP proposal. On Wednesday, Labor Secretary Silvestre H. Bello III was quoted as saying in a news report that the proposal is under consideration.
Other labor groups have expressed opposition to the police clearance requirement, including the Bukluran ng Manggagawang Pilipino, the Kilusang Mayo Uno and the Nagkaisa Labor Coalition. — Gillian M. Cortez
