QUEZON CITY -- The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) confirmed the safety compliance of eight food firms under San Miguel Corporation (SMC) during the safety seal awarding ceremony on July 27 in Pasig City.
The SMC subsidiaries who have successfully acquired the safety certification are San Miguel Foods, Inc.; The Purefoods-Hormel Company Inc.; Magnolia, Inc.; San Miguel Mills (head office and branch); Golden Bay Grain Terminal Corp.; San Miguel Food and Beverage; and San Miguel Super Coffeemix Co. Inc.
Labor and Employment Secretary Silvestre H. Bello III lauded the SMC, saying that it deserves recognition not only because it complies with government-sanctioned safety protocols but also because of its commendable employment process.
“Indeed, San Miguel Corporation’s safety compliance is truly commendable. However, it is more important to note that the company hires its employees directly and not from agencies,” the labor secretary highlighted.
Meanwhile, San Miguel Foods, Inc. Assistant Vice President and Head of Human Resources Daniel De Castro commended the efficiency of DOLE’s safety seal application process.
“The process was very easy. The [DOLE's Bureau of Working Condition's] website [that guides the application process] was both user- and reader-friendly. The application went smoothly, but it was also rigorous because the company had undergone assessments and onsite inspections,” De Castro explained.
The company also installed handwashing spaces, foot baths, and plastic barriers in key areas in their office to comply with the certification requirements.
SMC also implements safety measures towards the safety of its employees.
According to San Miguel Foods, Inc. President Francisco Alejo III, about 80 percent of the SMC workforce are already vaccinated.
“Thirty percent of our employees also work from home to ensure that we can effectively practice social distancing in our workplace,” the food company chief added.
SMC is one of the country’s largest and most diversified conglomerates with businesses in the food and beverage, packaging, fuel and oil, power, and infrastructure industries.
Per the latest updated data from the DOLE-Bureau of Working Conditions (BWC), the labor department has awarded 110 safety certifications nationwide, 14 of which are in the National Capital Region.
“The SMC group is the second food company to qualify for the certification, and we are looking forward to awarding more safety certificates in the coming weeks,” DOLE-NCR Director Sarah Buena Mirasol said.
DOLE issues the Safety Seal for the manufacturing, construction sites, utilities (electric, water, gas, air conditioning supply, sewerage, waste management), information and communication companies (private publication, news, movie production, TV and radio companies), and warehouses.
Also present during the awarding ceremony are DOLE Undersecretary Renato Ebarle, DOLE PAPAMAMARISAN Field Office Director Alicia Del Mundo, and BWC Program Management and Technical Services Division Officer-in-Charge Dr. Marco Antonio Valeros. (DOLE)
