Solon: DOLE knew Kentex hired illegal subcontractor

valenzuela city fire (photo: dennis datu / twitter)

MANILA — The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) knew that Kentex Manufacturing illegally subcontracted almost 200 workers from the CJC Manpower Services, according to a lawmaker.

During the hearing, DOLE-NCR labor compliance officer Engineer Joseph Vedaste admitted that he knew that CJC, which was not registered with DOLE, was a subcontractor for the firm.

Despite knowledge of the illegal subcontraction, House labor and employment committee chair Davao City Rep. Karlo Alexei Nograles said that DOLE still issued a compliance certificate to Kentex.

“He should not have issued a compliance certificate because Kentex entered into labor-only contracting which is an illegal and unlawful activity,” Nograles said  as quoted in a Philippine Daily Inquirer report.

“If he (Vedasto) had only verified with the Department of Labor and Employment that CJC Manpower Agency was not registered with DOLE… that is presumed already a violation of labor code and that is already presumed that Kentex entered into a labor-only contracting which is unlawful and illegal,” the lawmaker added.

The hearing also revealed that the slipper factory did not have a fire safety compliance certificate from the Bureau of Fire Protection.

An independent fact-finding mission also revealed that the employees of the factory were exposed to occupational safety hazards.