VOLUNTARY CODE OF GOOD PRACTICES IN THE

CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY

DECLARATION

In pursuit of its mandate, the Department of Labor and Employment has

exercised its inherent quasi judicial functions to insure compliance by the sectors with
existing Labor Standards, rules and regulations. In the case of construction industry,
the Department recognizes the urgency of keeping constructions worksites safe and
healthy for both the management and workers. It is governed by the Decent Work
Agenda advancing the aim that every Filipino worker is provided an opportunity to
obtain a decent and productive job under the conditions of freedom, equity, security
and human dignity.

Along this line, we in the construction industry adhere to put this voluntary code
of good practices into action to improve compliance relative to labor standards and
occupational safety and health in order to minimize government intervention in the
internal affair of the industry.

Therefore, we the undersigned Officers and members of the Construction

Industry Council, hereby bind ourselves to faithfully adhere to the agreements entered
among us, and declare our support for the growth and development of the industry,
workers and the community in general.

Further signify our commitment to the following components to ensure that all
members of the council shall take equal opportunity of this code.

OBJECTIVES

1. To provide guiding principle that shall govern the undertakings of the

construction industry in pursuit of harmonious relation at the workplace; and
compliance to occupational safety and health program for the benefit of the
workers and the management;

2. To promote social partnership in the industry by establishing a bi-partite

agreement among the workers through the creation of a Labor Management
Cooperation to look into issues and concerns of both the labor and
management.

COMPONENTS

1. Conditions of Work and Occupational Safety and Health

2. Labor Management Cooperation
3. Social Protection
4. Education and Training Services
5. Monitoring and Evaluation
 GUIDING PRINCIPLES

1. CONDITIONS OF WORK AND OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH:

A. OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH

The Construction industry stakeholders shall ensure protection and well-being of

every working man against work-related injury, sickness or death through a just and
humane working condition. Pursuant to this commitment, the following activities shall
be undertaken:

A.1 Establish a strong and working Occupational Safety and Health Committee
(OSH) in every worksite that would oversee the implementation of OSH
Standards, reportorial requirements to the Bureau of Working Condition and
other issuances pursuant to Rule 1040 of the Occupational Safety and Health
Standards;

A.2 Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) shall be implemented pursuant to the

provisions of Rule 1080. All PPE shall be of the approved design and
construction appropriate for the risk exposure and the work to be performed;

A.3 OSH signages and other OSH promotional materials/posters shall be visible in
the work premises. DOLE shall ensure availability of these materials for
reproduction by the companies;

A.4 Construction Safety Orientation shall be conducted to members of the

Construction Industry Tripartite Council by the DOLE every quarter to ensure
safety at the workplace;

A.5 A Construction Industry Tripartite Council-Safety and Health Committee to

include DOLE personnel (CITC-SHC) shall be created that will regularly monitor
and address issues and concerns on OSH; and

A.6 The Construction Industry Tripartite Council (CTIC) shall abide all laws
promulgated by both the National Government Agencies and Local Government
Units and shall comply with all the requirements in relation to the Safety and
Health Program.

B. GENERAL LABOR STANDARDS

B.1 The Industry may endeavor to grant monetary incentives when circumstances of
the business undertaking is outside of Region XII. Further, compliance of
statutory monetary benefits shall be primordial consideration in the
employer-employee relationship.

B.2 Minimum wage shall be observed and all mandatory benefits embodied in the
Construction Industry (DO 19 - 98) salaries shall be graduated depending on the
skills of workers hired and management shall respect Core Labor Standards.

B.3 Implementation of monetary/non-monetary incentives may be encouraged

whenever projects are accomplished ahead of schedule. This will not only
provide better compensation package but also give opportunity to better work
performance of workers.
2. LABOR-MANAGEMENT COOPERATION

The creation of Labor Management cooperation is a strategy which shall

be employed to resolve any work related disputes whereby policies affecting
employer-employee relationship shall be developed through the active
participation of workers representative. Pro-active consultation should not be
limited to addressing grievances but also the enhancement of operational
process to increase productivity in the industry:

2.1 Management shall create a venue that is bi-partite in composition,

represented by management and workers, which will address grievance
from both sectors relative to imposition of penalties;

2.2 Avail of the tripartite mechanism and social dialogue in addressing the
economic, social and OSH issues affecting the Construction Industry;

2.3 Observe due process relative to termination of employment on the

ground of just and authorized causes pursuant to Book VI of the Labor
Code;

2.4 Educate workers on written company policy relative to administrative

processes in disciplinary actions. Notice of violation shall be properly
served to the worker and he/she shall be given equal opportunity to be
heard of his/her defense;

2.5 Workers shall observe a degree of efficiency that will contribute

substantially to the productivity of the company. Constraints/hindrances
to productivity (e.g. absenteeism) shall be policed by the LMC;

2.6 The Department of Labor and Employment shall, upon summon to any
party for any labor dispute, immediately considering the condition under
the mediation-conciliation processes of the DOLE Single Entry
Approach (SEnA).

3. SOCIAL PROTECTION

The members of the Construction Industry Tripartite Council shall

ensure that all its workers are afforded with social protection. Security of life and
limbs of the workers are imperative considering that the nature of work in the
construction is classified as hazardous:

3.1 The Council shall appear to the Department of Labor and Employment
to coordinate with the Social Security System (SSS) and Philhealth to
provide fast lanes for processing of membership application and other
transactions considering that the nature of employment in the
construction is generally short term;

3.2 The CITC shall not engage the services of a child labourer. In cases
where working parents offer their minor children to work for their
employer, the management shall advise the latter to bring the child to
the DOLE for other employment or training opportunities;
 3.3 The CITC shall initiate the conduct of company orientation in
coordination with the Department of Labor and Employment on
Employees Compensation Programs. The Employees Compensation
Program, SSS and Philhealth benefits shall be part of the module in the
Construction Safety Orientation.

4. EDUCATION AND TRAINING SERVICES

Awareness is an essential key in the promotion of a safe and healthful

workplace. The DOLE shall ensure that OSH Orientation and Trainings will be
accessible to both management and workers.

4.1 DOLE shall advise a scheme wherein the one-day Basic Construction
and Safety Orientation will be conducted regularly;

4.2 The council in coordination with the OSHNET 12 shall request the
conduct of the 40 hours Construction Safety Training in the region
semi-annually or as the need arises through the support of the
Occupational Safety and Health Center;

4.3 The culture of the Occupational Safety and Health shall be upheld and
recognized as a basic component of productivity. DOLE 12, OSHC,
OSHNET 12 and other safety organizations shall give full assistance to
ensure safe and healthful working conditions through a comprehensive
education campaign on OSH;

4.4 The council through the assistance of the Department of Labor and
Employment, Regional Office No. 12 shall coordinate with the Technical
Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) to develop a
program that would make skills training available to the Industry and
also the upgrading and accreditation of the same.

5. MONITORING, EVALUATION AND REPORTING

The Construction Industry Tripartite Council (CITC) shall conduct its

quarterly regular meetings and evaluation in close coordination with DOLE 12
any development of its respective commitments.

The monitoring tool below is purposely used to measure and ascertain

the effectiveness of the Voluntary Code of Good Practices in the Construction
Industry. Result of this will assist in formulating strategies a project and policies
that will improve project implementation and ensure sustainability geared
towards creation of employment in a specific area.

Priority Area Key Strategic Target Time Responsibl Achieved Reasons Remarks
Activities Objective Outpu Frame e Agency/ or not if not
s t Partner achieved

Occupationa
l Safety and
Health
 Labor
Standards

Labor
Managemen
t
Cooperation

Education
and Training
Services

Monitoring
and
Evaluation

Note: The specific activities shall be crafted by the Construction Industry Tripartite Council after the signing of this code.

We, the undersigned stakeholders of the Construction Industry of Region XII

signify our pledge to advance the aspirations of this Code and continuously strive towards
good practices of the Industry and hereby adopt this instrument this ______ day of
___________________ in the year of Our Lord Twenty Hundred and Fourteen.

Vice-Chairman-Management Vice-Chairman-Labor

OFELIA B. DOMINGO, CESO III

Regional Director
RTIPC /
ITC-Chairman

GOVERNMENT AGENCIES

DPWH NEDA

DTI DILG

MEMBERS OF THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY