MICRO establishments in Central Luzon, totaling 974, received technical and advisory services from the Department of Labor and Employment (DoLE) under its new inspection framework.

Benefiting from the services were 242 firms from Bulacan, 185 in Pampanga, 175 in Bataan, 172 in Zambales, 110 in Nueva Ecija, 46 in Aurora, and 44 in Tarlac.

In a statement, DoLE Regional Director Geraldine Panlilio noted that the framework is anchored on the government’s thrust of ensuring compliance with labor rules including occupational safety and health.

“Our inspection team started early since we are targeting more than 16,000 micro establishments in the region for this year,” she said.

Panlilio added that the agency, through the framework, is able to connect with micro firms in all provinces across the region.

She added that the DoLE was also able to conduct preliminary zoning activities in their covered areas even before the actual technical and advisory visit.

To accomplish the regional target, all labor inspectors (LIs) and assistant labor inspectors (ALIs) are in close coordination with local government units. After each technical and advisory session, LIs and ALIs assisted all micro establishments in their action plan which shall be their guide in increasing productivity and achieving compliance with labor standards. Moreover, the DoLE shall monitor and validate the action plans at the end of the three-month period.