The City Government of Davao advances workers’ rights through the implementation of Ordinance No. 0585-21, Series of 2021, which recognizes the dignity of labor across all sectors including housekeepers, construction and BPO workers, whether resident or non-resident of Davao City, by upholding their welfare and guaranteeing equal access to information, legal support and other public services.
The ordinance entitled “An Ordinance creating the City Workers Protection and Development Office of Davao City under the Office of the Mayor, defining its functions and objectives, allocating funds thereof and for other purposes” promotes workers right, fosters employment opportunities and strengthens social protection.
It covers all employers and workers whose places of business are within the territorial jurisdiction of Davao City, including handicapped workers, Overseas Filipino Workers, solo parents, women in the entertainment industry, Senior citizens or elderly, Persons with disabilities (PWDs), contractual employees, Barangay workers, construction workers, BPO workers, labor organizations and those assigned outside the city but whose head offices are located in the city.
The ordinance will establish a Workers Protection and Development Office (WPDO) of Davao City to supervise the Barangay Employment Service Desk (BESD), which is mandated to conduct research and provide training on labor standards, occupational safety and health standards, social welfare laws and other pertinent laws affecting workers.
Among its duties, the WPDO will enforce the strict implementation of labor standards on employers and companies, monitor compliance and organize a network of volunteer lawyers and paralegals to provide free legal services for workers.
They are also responsible for maintaining updated barangay-level inventory and organizing physical or virtual job fairs, pre-employment seminars, and career employment coaching in schools or barangays.
The funding for the operational and administrative requirements of the WPDO, as well as expenses incidental to the implementation of the ordinance, shall be sourced from the Special Programs of the City Mayor charged to the annual budget. CIO
Written by: N. Malasado
Edited by: A. Nawal