Angeles building owner, contractor fined

THE Department of Labor and Employment has directed a building owner and its contractor to pay over P11.4 million in fines and back wages following a May building collapse in Angeles City, Pampanga that killed at least 30 people.

Labor Secretary Francis N. Tolentino signed the June 16 order against the owner and Golden Years Construction and Steelworks Corp., citing the alleged non-payment of wages and holiday premiums to 57 workers.

The department further imposed a P10.2-million administrative fine for alleged occupational safety violations, including the failure to provide personal protective equipment and the lack of adequate safety personnel.

An additional P100,000 penalty was levied for alleged misrepresentation after investigators found that first-aid certificates submitted by the respondents were not authentic.

The Labor department said it will forward the investigation findings to concerned government agencies to facilitate the potential filing of criminal and civil charges. — Erika Mae P. Sinaking