Wearing of IDs in food and night establishments proposed

March 3, 2018 Opinion Sideglance

In keeping with sound office management and business practice City Councilor Joel Alangsab has come out with a proposal to require all employees in restaurants, nightclubs, bars and similar entertainment establishments to wear their working permit identification card during working hours, prescribing penalties for violation thereof, and for other purposes.

Under his proposed Ordinance councilor Alangsab pointed out that aside from being a sound business practice the wearing of working permit identification cards by the abovementioned employees “will send a very positive and strong impression to the patronizing public thereby reinforcing the city’s commitment and policy of promoting a sound and productive business climate in the City.”

The alderman is likewise proposing that the wearing of the working permit identification cards should be a regular practice in the city considering that there are already some business establishments, particularly those engaged in the food business requiring their employees or staff to always wear their working permit IDs during working hours. On the need for such regulation he likewise cited Republic Act 7160 otherwise known as the Local Government Code of 1991 more specifically Section 16 of Chapter 2, Title One, which provides that, “Every local government unit shall exercise the powers expressly granted, those necessarily implied therefrom, as well as powers necessary, appropriate, or incidental for its efficient and effective governance, and those which are essential to the promotion of the general welfare. Within their respective territorial jurisdictions, local government units shall ensure and support, among other things, the preservation and enrichment of culture, promote health and safety, enhance the right of the people to a balanced ecology, encourage and support the development of appropriate and self-reliant scientific and technological capabilities, improve public morals, enhance economic prosperity and social justice, promote full employment among their residents, maintain peace and order, and preserve the comfort and convenience of their inhabitants.”

When enacted into law the city will make it a policy to require all employees in restaurants, clubs, bars or similar establishments to always war their working permit identification card issued by the City Government of Baguio while on duty or during their working hours.

On the other hand failure on the part of the covered establishments to abide by the provisions of the proposed regulation will subject them to penalties such as a fine of 500 pesos for the first offense, 1,000 pesos for the second offense, and a fine of 1,500 pesos for the third offense and subsequent repetition of the offense.

Furthermore, the owner or proprietor of the concerned business establishment shall be required to issue an Office Memorandum requiring their employees to strictly follow and comply with the requirement on the wearing of the said ID. In case they fail to issue such memorandum it shall be construed as a ground for the revocation or cancellation of their business permit.

Finally, the city’s Public Employment Service Office (PESO) in coordination with the Public Order and Safety Division (POSD) shall be tasked in the implementation of the said proposed legislative measure after its approval.