Labour inspection

Training for Labour Inspectors from Luzon and the National Capital Region on Advancing Competencies on Core Labour Inspection Functions

The ILO in partnership with the Department of Labor and Employment will hold a training for labour inspectors from Luzon and the National Capital Region to enhance competencies and to promote quality inspection.

Labour inspection in the Philippines face a number of challenges including the low ratio of inspectors to establishments, multiple functions performed outside of inspection and the need to enhance the capacity labour inspectors. The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) has the power to visit and enforce as part of labour inspection but there are remaining constraints and gaps to be addressed as part of reform.

The ILO Project on Building the Capacity of the Philippines Labour Inspectorate, in partnership with the DOLE’s Bureau of Working Conditions will enhance the capacity of 30 labour inspectors covering Luzon and the National Capital Region. The project is funded by the United States Department of Labor (US DOL).

The training for labour inspectors on core labour inspection functions will provide a broader and more updated knowledge of the role of the visitorial and enforcement power in promoting decent work and social justice. It will also develop a broader appreciation of the environment under which labour laws and regulations are enforced, particularly of changes in work organizations, business models and technologies. It will also provide a higher level of mastery in the application of labour standards under the Labor Code, social legislations and special laws and enhance ability and confidence in performing quality inspection.

Specifically, the training aims to enhance competencies of labour inspectors from Luzon and the National Capital Region on:
  • ensuring the integrity of the visitorial and enforcement power,
  • undertaking a responsible and complete examination and fact-finding investigation that will support immediate and subsequent on-the-spot and off-site actions and proceedings,
  • preparing results of inspection, including preparing findings and recommendations,
  • conducting or assisting in the conduct of conferences and hearings on cases arising from inspection, and
  • preparing or helping prepare orders, decisions or resolutions for consideration of the Regional Director.
The training course will run for five days using a combination of lectures, practical case exercises, inter-active discussions and workshops, role playing, pre-training and in-training assignments, among others. Inputs and recommendations gathered and formulated will contribute towards improving guidelines, procedures and protocols and making the performance of core inspection functions more standardized, efficient, effective and accountable.

Inputs and recommendations will further aid in updating of the labour inspection operational manual. Each labour inspector will also complete a re-entry plan to re-orient and to enhance performance of tasks, including commitment to the core inspection functions and to continuously support other labour inspectors in improving their respective competencies.