"Valenzuela fire death trap highlights sweatshop abuses", 15 May 2015

The deaths of 72 people in a fire that gutted a footwear factory in Valenzuela city has exposed abusive conditions for millions of poor and desperate workers across the Philippines. The tragedy...was one of the country's deadliest workplace accidents. But the alleged exploitation of workers at the factory, where lax safety standards caused the fire, is anything but unusual across the Philippines, according to the government and unions. "The deaths should serve as a wake-up call for businessmen to stop these abuses....They should give their employees dignity," Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz...[said] Baldoz scored the owners of the company that owned the factory, Kentex Manufacturing, branding them as "immoral" and accusing them of a raft of illegal labor practices...The workers, who produced cheap sandals and slippers for the domestic market, were paid well below the minimum wage of P481 ($10.90) a day and were denied a host of legally mandated benefits, survivors of the blaze and victims' relatives...[said] They said workers were forced to toil 12-hour days, 7 days a week without overtime, had legally-required social security and health insurance payments withheld, and were forced to constantly inhale foul-smelling chemicals.The government said the fire was caused by welding being carried out near flammable chemicals, highlighting what workers described as a casual approach to workplace safety in which there were no fire drills.

In a forum organized by the factory owners...Kentex lawyer Renato Paraiso told survivors and the families of the victims and casualties that they would give them money – the due salary on the 15th of the month plus a few days' work and overtime – on Saturday, "just to tide them over." Paraiso asked for patience in awaiting other benefits due them under the law, as people from the Kentex administrative and accounting office also perished in the fire that burnt company records as well. "Just give us a chance. We will provide all your benefits as provided under the law," he said. The lawyer also said Kentex is trying to get in touch with the agencies that supplied some of its manpower, after it learned that these labor providers did not remit the employees' contribution to the Social Security System (SSS). Kentex gave the full amount to these agencies, the lawyer said, adding that the company will provide legal assistance, if needed, to those who may want to pursue legal action against the manpower agencies. Paraiso also said that Kentex is coordinating with local government officials regarding the agencies