DOL Education on Labor Regulations and Workplace Safety for Small Businesses
gowan gensore, davao oriental - Tiny businesses got a chance to grow safely and legally, thanks to the Technical Advisory Visit (TAV) Orientation and Basic Occupational Safety and Health (BOSH) Training for Safety Officers held by the Department of Labor and Employment (Dole) Davao Oriental Field Office on April 3, 2025.
This one-day event aimed to make tiny businesses comply with labor laws while equipping their safety officers with essential knowledge on workplace safety and health. Recognizing the unique challenges these businesses face, particularly those located in remote, lesser-developed areas, Dole emphasized the need for practical support to create safe, health-conscious, and compliant workplaces.
Held at the Municipal Tourism Complex in Don Aurelio Chicote, the event attracted 80 participants from various small businesses scattered throughout the province.
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The day was filled with insightful discussions led by resource speakers from Dole. Leo III Mayenne Solano kicked off the sessions with an introduction to the TAV program and general labor standards, stressing that TAV is a developmental method designed to help businesses comply with labor standards.
Following that, TUPAD coordinator Eva Ces Gamalong talked about legal provisions regarding minimum wage and overtime pay, while TUPAD coordinator Philip James Tecson discussed premium pay and 13th-month pay to raise participants' awareness and understanding of their obligations under existing labor laws.
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Glenn Louie Banoy, LEO II, conducted the BOSH training, which is required under Republic Act 11058, or the Occupational Safety and Health Law. It mandates all workplaces, including tiny businesses, to have trained safety officers.
"We're bringing DOLE's services closer to the grassroots," Solano said. "We want our business owners to know that compliance is achievable, and we're here to guide them through it."
Beyond the lectures, the orientation served as an interactive space for participants to voice concerns and receive real-time advice from Dole personnel. Many people, especially those new to such sessions, expressed their pleasure over the practical guidance offered throughout the activity.
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This initiative is part of Dole's ongoing effort to highlight labor standards, promote workplace safety, and ensure that even the smallest enterprises have the tools and support needed to maintain decent working conditions.
To help tiny businesses in remote areas, Dole could collaboration with private entities, local governments, and NGOs in sponsoring labor compliance training, safety resources, and other essential support. By strengthening knowledge at the grassroots level, both parties aim to ensure safe, healthy, and compliant workplaces for everyone. PR
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Incorporating insights from private-sector initiatives, potential collaborative approaches for Dole's assistance to micro-establishments in remote communities include:
- Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) – PPPs can address connectivity gaps and foster digital inclusion in underserved areas by partnering private entities, local governments, and NGOs[^3^].
- Value Chain Financing and Capacity Building – Financial institutions supporting small-scale producers in remote areas through customized financing and capacity-building initiatives can be a model for Dole to integrate labor compliance support into existing agricultural or microenterprise development programs[^2^].
- Digital Solutions for Outreach – Digital connectivity can provide access to services, making it possible for Dole to provide remote training, digital compliance tools, or virtual labor inspections for tiny businesses in far-flung areas[^1^].
[^1^]: Caraga Regional Development Report 2024 (DICT initiatives)[^2^]: RCBC 2024 Annual Report (agricultural value chain financing)[^3^]: Globe 2024 Integrated Report (PPPs for digital inclusion)
- The Technical Advisory Visit (TAV) Orientation and Basic Occupational Safety and Health (BOSH) Training held by Dole in Davao Oriental aimed to assist tiny businesses in complying with labor laws and promoting workplace health and safety.
- Recognizing the challenges faced by tiny businesses, particularly those in remote, lesser-developed areas, Dole emphasized the importance of providing practical support for creating safe, health-conscious, and compliant workplaces.
- During the event, resource speakers from Dole discussed various compliance issues, including minimum wage, overtime pay, premium pay, and the importance of having trained safety officers, as required under Republic Act 11058.
- As part of its ongoing effort to ensure decent working conditions for all, Dole is exploring collaborative approaches with private entities, local governments, and NGOs to provide labor compliance training, safety resources, and other essential support to micro-establishments in remote communities.
- Strategies for assisting micro-establishments include Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs), value chain financing and capacity building, and digital solutions for outreach, which can provide access to services, training, and virtual labor inspections for tiny businesses in remote areas.
