First Filipino global banana producer Tagum Agricultural Development Corporation (TADECO) led 10 other business establishments in Region 11 in receiving the other day government affirmation that they are not employing any child laborer and that they don’t produce commodity or service with child labor input.
At the Public-Private Partnership Towards Labor Laws Compliance event of the DOLE Regional Office No. 11’s 7th Social Partnership at Work activity, held at the Grand Men Seng Hotel in Davao City, Labor and Employment Secretary Rosalinda Dimapilis-Baldoz awarded each of the 11 establishments, including TADECO, a Child Labor Free Establishment (CLFE) Certificate, signifying their full compliance with all child labor laws.
Earlier in the day, she took the extra effort to personally travel to TADECO’s banana plantation in Panabo, Davao del Norte to unveil the company’s CLFE marker. Accompanied by Undersecretary Rebecca Chato, head of the DOLE’s labor relations and internal affairs cluster, and DOLE Regional Office No. 11 Director Joffrey Suyao, she was received at the plantation by Anflo Group of Companies’ chief executive officer Alexander Valoria and chief operating officer and vice president for banana operations Vincent Floirendo, and Southern Mindanao Federation of Labor President Samuel Cardenio, also president of the TADECO Labor Union.
“I congratulate you for this milestone in your respective companies. The certificate that you received is testimony to your commitment not to employ child laborers and not to produce or sell any product or service with inputs from child laborers. Being a child labor-free establishment is a good foundation for business. I hope other companies will follow your lead,” said Baldoz in her message to the companies, represented by their owners/ manages and employees.
The CLFE Certificate is one of the incentives under the Incentivizing Compliance Program (ICP), DOLE reform program in labor standards and occupational safety and health standards compliance which seeks to reward and recognize establishments voluntarily complying with labor laws, including laws against child labor.
“The DOLE awards the CLFE Certificate to companies that show commitment and exemplary adherence to the Child Labor Law under Republic Act 9231,” Baldoz said, adding:
“Through this Certificate, we aim to promote compliant and socially-responsible businesses in support to the DOLE’s Child Labor-Free Philippines campaign. Qualified companies must not only be a holder of the Tripartite Certificate of Compliance with Labor Standards (TCCLS). They should have an anti-child labor policy that they communicate throughout the company, including members of the supply chain. This policy should condemn to the highest extent any forms of child labor practices and commit the company not to patronize or avail any goods and services produced from any forms of child labor.
According to Baldoz, establishments or companies that receive the CLFE Certificate move closer towards receiving the Tripartite Certificate of Compliance with Labor Standards (TCCLS) and the President’s Award all under the ICP. The TSE can be obtained by an establishment upon acquiring all of the five DOLE good housekeeping certificates: the TCCLS, the CLFE, the Gawad Kaligtasan at Kalusugan, National Productivity Olympics Award, and the Outstanding LMC Award for Industrial Peace.
The 11 companies that received their CLFE Certificates from Secretary Baldoz are the following: (1) Allado Construction Company Inc.; (2) Carmen Corrugated Containers; (3) Davao Doctors College Inc.; (4) Davao Light & Power Company; (5) Del Monte Fresh Produce (Phils.) Inc.; (6) DOLE Valley Zone–Maragusan; (7) Mindanao Integrated Logistic Service (MILSI); (8) Stanfilco Plastic Plant; (9) University of Mindanao; (10) Vapor Heat Treatment Plant (STANFILCO); and (11) Tagum Agricultural Development Company Inc.
These companies, according to Regional Director Suyao, have been previously awarded with Tripartite Certificate of Compliance with Labor Standards.
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