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Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City
EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. _ 2052

Introduced by Rep. Precious Hipolito Castelo

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The deadly fire at a slippers factory in Valenzuela City took death toll to 72 company employees
or workers in 2015. The incident set alarm thereby tasking several government agencies to
probe into the cause or circumstances surrounding the unnecessary number of casualties, both
killed and injured.

Ageinst this backdrop, the 1978 Occupational Safety and Health Standards enforced by the
Department of Labor and Employment have been found wanting. Perhaps, some standards are
more on the breach than on compliance. it seems that employers or companies may have
falled to insure safety agains! occupational and health hazards of the workplace. This apparent
wilful violations of prescribed standards or benchmarks against imminent danger for employees
‘or workers shalll hanceforth be dealt with accordingly.

It is the primary urgency of the bill to set the highest level of compliance from errant or erring
employers or companies unmindful of the total safety of workers or employees against imminent
danger of death, iliness, and/or injury through the imposition cf criminal penalties as prescribed
under existing laws.

To address the problem that might in the future go out of hand, the bil! envisions the creation of
the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) as the office of primary
responsibilty (OPR) to impose criminal penalties agginst any violation of criterie/standards
prescribed in the 1978 Occupational Safety and Health Standards.

The need for a congressional fiat cannot be underestimated. Truly, there is a need of an
agency liberally authorized to pursue high-profile criminal prosecutions, determine heavier
criminal penalties, and impose much higher fines against employers or their company
executives who may be found guilty of wilful violation of prescribed standards that results in the
death of an employee or worker or otherwise serious illness or injury detrimental to their safety
and heath.



Repubtic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
‘Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL No. _2052

Introduced by Rep. Precious Hipolito Castelo

AN ACT
CREATING THE OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH ADMINISTRATION (OSHA)
UNDER THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR AND EMPLOYMENT THEREBY IMPOSING
CRIMINAL PENALTIES AGAINST VIOLATIONS OF THE 1978 OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY
AND HEALTH STANDARDS AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

Br Renected in he Senate enc the House:of Represantetivee of the Raputhe/ct the Phitephioe
in Congress assembled:

SECTION 1. This Act shall be known as the ‘Occupational Safely and Health
Administration Act”

SEC. 2. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) shall. hereby be
created as the agency in charge of the strict and effective implementation of the 1978
Occupational Safety and Health Standards currently set forth by the Department of Labor and
Employment.

SEC. 3. It shall be the mission of the OSHA to assure safe and healthful working
conditions for working men and women by setting and. enforcing standards under pain of
criminal penalties imposed against employers in violation thereof particularly in cases resulting
in mass death, iliness, and/or injury to employees or workers.

SEC. 4. Under this Act, OSHA as the Office of Primary Responsibility (OPR) shall
henceforth be authorized to impose criminal penalties upon justification of just cause and in
accordance with existing laws, statutes ar enactments for any violation of rules set forth by
OSHA.

Provided Further That, the Administration may be liberally allowed to pursue high-profile
criminal prosecutions, determine heavier criminal penalties, and impose much higher fines
against employers or their company executives who may be found guilty of wilful violation of
prescribed standards that results in the death, serious injury or illness of an employee or worker.

SEC. 5, This Act shall take effect upon thirty (30) days upon its approvel, publication in
the Official Gazette, and dissemination in at least three (3) newspapers of general circulation.

Approved,