The Department of Trade & Industry-Board of Investments (DTI-BOI) and the
Department of Labor & Employment (DOLE) in Philippines recently signed a
Joint Department Order (DO) providing for the guidelines for the issuance,
suspension or revocation of certificates of accreditation for garments firms.
The DO also creates a Workers’ Rights Review committee. The
accreditation certificate guidelines would cover garment manufacturers,
exporters, and subcontractors who would want to avail of preferential tariffs
under the Generalised System of Preferences (GSP).
DTI secretary and BOI chairman Ramon Lopez and DOLE secretary Silvestre H Bello
III signed the Joint DO during the DTI-DOLE Directors’ Joint Assembly
for Trabaho, Negosyo, Kabuhayan (TMK) at the Philippine Trade
Training Centre (PTTC) in Pasay City.As part of the country’s commitment
on complying with global labour standards for the garments and textile industries,
the joint DO is a product of a series of consultative meetings of the two
agencies with the Clothing and Textile Industry Tripartite Council (CTITC), and
labour and employment sectors since 2010.
Despite the changing landscape of global trends, the production of goods and
services must still conform to international labour standards for market
access. This order will help promote labour laws compliance and standards in
the garment industry via certification and decertification mechanisms for
companies who want to avail preferential tariff under the GSP,” said Lopez.The
signing of the joint guidelines for the garments industry on the certification
on labour standards compliance will ensure that are our workers have decent
jobs, and that they enjoy the economic benefits that our participation in the
global trade brings,” said Bello.
This joint issuance serves as a proof of the Duterte administration’s resolve
to ensure that Filipino workers here and abroad can reap the just fruits of
their honest labours even as their employers gain a reasonable return of their
investments while ensuring business expansion and growth,” added Bello.Under
the Joint DO, the BOI will serve as the DTI Accreditation Board (DAB) that will
grant Certificates of Accreditation mandatory for manufacturers, exporters and
subcontractors availing tariffs under the Garments and Textile Import Services
(GTIS) and voluntary for all other garment firms. The accreditation is
mandatory for those availing of privileges under the GSP and voluntary for all
other garment firms. The accreditation is valid for three years from issuance,
but may be suspended or revoked due to failure to comply with the labour
minimum standards set by the DAB.
BOI serves as the DAB as the import-related functions of the former Garments
and Textile Import Services (GTIS)—including accreditation of importers were
transferred to the agency through DTI Department Administrative Order No.
10-06, Series of 2010.In addition, the Workers’ Rights Review Committee composed
of four members representing DTI, DOLE, the labour sector and the employers
sector will conduct an audit of the applicant’s compliance with labour
standards as provided under Section 8.1 of the Joint DO. Its audit findings and
recommendations will be submitted to DAB for review and evaluation.The joint DO
serves as the pilot guideline on the GSP availment and when deemed successful,
the DTI and DOLE will come up with similar guidelines for other sectors and
industries.
Source: Manila Standard Today, Philippines Friday, 23 June 2017