DAVAO CITY – The mining company operating in Semirara Island, Antique Province is responsible for the death of three of its mine workers early morning of Friday, says a labor group.
Elmer Labog, chairperson of national labor center Kilusang Mayo Uno said Semirara Mining and Power Corp. and its mother company DMCI Holdings, Inc is “responsible” for the death of three mine workers while nine remains missing when its open-pit mine collapsed around 3 am Friday.
“The incident recalls a similar incident in February 2013 in which at least five miners died after a mine collapsed. It confirms that Semirara-DMCI is guilty of violating safety standards,” said Labog.
He said mine workers “were made to work very early in the morning despite the non-stop rains in the area, on top of the inherently dangerous nature of work in open-pit mining.”
Labog said they “also hold the Department of Labor and Employment under the government of Pres. Noynoy Aquino responsible for this incident.”
“The death of at least three workers occurred only more than two months after the Kentex factory fire which claimed the lives of more than 72 workers,” he said.
Labog said the incident “is another proof that big capitalists penny-pinch on upholding workplace safety in order to increase profit.”
He said that “DOLE’s Order No. 131-13 titled Rules on Labor Laws Compliance System legalizes violations of Occupational Health and Safety Standards.”
Labog said they reiterate their call for the national government “to recognize its leading role in upholding workplace safety, to carry out mandatory inspection of workplaces in the country, and to impose stiff penalties to capitalists who violate safety standards.”
Labog said they also support the call of environmentalist group Kalikasan-People’s Network for the Environment for “Semirara’s closure, for its mining operations are some of the most hazardous and pollution-causing.” (davaotoday.com)
