MARIVELES, Bataan – The Freeport Area of Bataan (FAB) is now recognized as the first labor law compliant (LLC) freeport in the country.

The Department of Labor and Employment (DoLE) recently conferred on FAB the LCC status after the Authority of the Freeport Area of Bataan (AFAB) and all FAB-registered locators facilitated voluntary compliance on labor laws and occupational safety and health standards.

“This new milestone is another manifestation of the AFAB’s unwavering commitment to make the FAB the freeport of choice by 2020,” AFAB Chairman Deogracias G.P. Custodio said. “The AFAB commits to continue to maintain FAB’s new status as a labor standard compliant zone and to support all the endeavors of its locators,” he added.

Meanwhile, DoLE Sec. Rosalinda Dimapilis-Baldoz formally declared the FAB as a labor standard compliant freeport with the unveiling of the LLC marker inside the industrial area. “I am pleased to unveil this marker, indicating our country’s inexorable march towards the path of reform in labor laws compliance,” said Baldoz.

“I remember the FAB, formerly the Bataan Export Processing Zone, as a hotbed of labor unrest that earned the country the derisive title of being the ‘strike capital’ of Asia. I am happy to note that that history is behind us now as the FAB manages to coordinate with its locators to sustain industrial peace in its area. Because of this, the Philippines is now known as the ‘industrial peace hub’ of Asia,” Sec. Baldoz said.

The secretary also distributed certificates of compliance (COCs) on General Labor Standards (GLS) and Occupational Safety and Health Standards (OSHS) to management representatives of 47 FAB locators. She likewise awarded COCs on GLS and OSHS to 20 FAB contractors/ subcontractors.

“I am happy to note that even the unions at the FAB have organized themselves into a Coalition of Labor Unions of Bataan (CLUB),” she added. Baldoz noted that 17 of the locators in the Freeport are already unionized. These establishments are Almatech Manufacturing Corporation; Bahrain Fiberglass International, Inc.; Chun Chiang Enterprise Manufacturing Co., Inc.; Dong In Entech K-1 Inc.; Dunlop Slazenger Phils, Inc.; East Cam Tech Corporation; Edge Soft Woods Solution, Inc.; Essilor Manufacturing Philippines, Inc.; Medtecs International Corporation; Medtecs Material Tech Corporation; Mitsumi Philippines; Monasteria Knitting, Inc.; Mountaineering Instruments Corp.; Qualitek Delta Philippines; and Universal Weavers Corporation.

Meanwhile, AFAB Deputy Administrator for Support Services Patrick Lester Ty congratulated the management of all locators inside the FAB for successfully facilitating voluntary compliance on labor laws and occupational safety and health standards. “We are grateful to all of you for helping the AFAB achieve its goal to become the first labor compliant freeport in the country. With the labor standard compliant status of the FAB, we can facilitate improved productivity and harmonious employer-employee relationship,” he said.