Kentex’s many violations caused biggest factory fire casualty – labor NGOs

Kentex’s many violations caused biggest factory fire casualty – labor NGOs

Members of KMU and Gabriela offer prayers, flowers and their calls for justice to fire victims and survivors May 15, 2015, at Maysan village hall, Valenzuela City (Photo by M. Salamat / Bulatlat.com)

By MARYA SALAMAT

MANILA – Even as Valenzuela City Mayor Rex Gatchalian, Kentex legal counsel Renato Paraiso and Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz are telling the mainstream media about the factory owners’ compliance with labor standards, building requirements and fire and safety requirements, the death of 72 people, as of the last count, because of the fire and the tales of how the workers were treated at work are drawing outrage and calls for justice.

Following a fact-finding mission on Kentex by non-government labor institutions, they concluded that the death of the workers in the 7-hour factory fire in Valenzuela two days ago, May 13, resulted from the violations of occupational health and safety standards committed by the management of Kentex Manufacturing, Inc.

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