Inspectors find more violations at sweatshop

by Martin P. Marfil
from The Philippine Daily Inquirer
July 6, 2003

The team of inspectors sent Thursday by the Department of Labor and Employment to the Anvil Ensembles factory in the eastern town of Taytay in Rizal province said workers continued to work under substandard conditions.

It noted the presence of numerous flies and some dogs at the workers' eating area, and said the two-story factory lacked toilets.

This was how the team, headed by Dr. Melba Sacro of the Bureau of Working Conditions, described the working conditions in a report:

The ground floor housing the bundling, warehouse, pressing, quality-control and sampling areas had two large industrial ceiling fans but both were not in operation, resulting in a "generally hot with poor ventilation" area.

The second floor housing the entire sewing section was well-lit and well-ventilated, with open windows on its sides. But only five workers were seen wearing face masks, and these were "improvised."

The women's toilet was located on the second floor, and the men's toilet, on the ground floor.

"As to the workers allegations of unhygienic conditions, we found the comfort rooms to be smelly and dirty..." the team said. "The number of comfort rooms is inadequate. In the receiving area adjacent to the kitchen and men's room, we noticed so many flies. Pet dogs were atop benches and tables that were used by workers for eating."

On Jan. 30, Anvil workers filed a complaint with the DOLE saying management had violated labor laws and standards.

They complained of underpayment (100 to 190 pesos per day, no pay slips), no holiday pay, no 13th-month pay, no night shift differential pay, no service incentive leave, no morning and afternoon breaks, prohibition to go to the toilets, no social security coverage, no maternity benefits and forced overtime.