MANILA, Philippines – The Philippines received a $1 million (P44.6 million) grant from the United States’ International Labor Organization for its new labor laws compliance system (LLCS).

On Sunday, December 28, Malacañang announced the award of the technical assistance grant to the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE).

“This is a welcome gift to the Philippines and will boost the implementation of the DOLE’s new labor laws compliance system, which President Aquino III himself had endorsed with his grant of 372 new plantilla item positions for labor laws compliance officers, who will be equipped with electronic gadgets to boost our capacity to enforce all labor laws,” Communications Secretary Herminio “Sonny” Coloma Jr said.

As of November 2014, 90% of the 70,766 targeted establishments are covered by the labor laws compliance system. The 60,479 establishments, which cover 333,136 workers, have received benefits worth P69.425 million ($1.5 million) from plant-level restitution.

DOLE describes the LLCS as “a mix of developmental and regulatory approaches that will benefit micro, small and medium enterprises (SMEs), as well as address existing rigidities while ensuring decent and productive work.”

The LLCS has 3 approaches, including joint assessment, compliance visit, and occupational safety and health investigation. – Rappler.com

*$1=P44.6