OSHC launches 13th Gawad Kaligtasan at Kalusugan in Calabarzon

CALAMBA CITY, LAGUNA – The Occupational Safety and Health Center (OSHC) ramps up information diseemination efforts as it launches the 13^th Gawad Kaligtasan at Kalusugan at Hotel Marciano, Real, Calamba City, Laguna last February 29, Thursday following its kick off launch for NCR.

“This year , we launch the GKK with a better perspective on occupational safety and health. Coming on the heels of a pandemic , the 13^th GKK is expected to highlight practical , inclusive , and responsive OSH programs successfully implemented across different industries – government and private – as well as among our micro-enterprises and the informal sector. We are excited to see how a global safety and health concern has shaped OSH programs that have been implemented in different enterprises , and how these have positively affected the lives of workers , their families , and the communities they belong to.” Engr. Connie Sto.Tomas, Chief of the safety control division of the OSHC said in an statement.

The GKK is an award given by the Department of Labor and Employment in recognition of outstanding achievements of enterprises and individuals in implementing successful occupational safety and health programs that respond to the needs of workers, workplaces, and their communities. The awarding ceremony happens biannually and is spearheaded by the OSHC.

Nominations are open to private and locally registered companies, government agencies, individuals who are designated as OSH personnel of GKK-nominated companies, micro-enterprises, and the informal sector.

The GKK employs a two-tiered scheme at its regional and national levels. Nominees will be subjected to a rigorous screening and validation process.

Chaired by the DOLE Regional Director, the validation team is composed of representative/s from the technical divisions of the OSHC, concerned regional unit/offices of the OSHC, Employees’ Compensation Commission, the DOLE; social partners from the workers’ groups and employers’ groups; OSH Networks or organizations; and the Social Security System, Government Service Insurance System, or the Civil Service Commission.

The OSHC said the GKK validation team will determine the regional-level winners, who will then automatically qualify for the national-level awards.

The National Board of Judges, composed of representatives from government sectors, workers’ groups, employers’ groups, and the OSHC, will determine the national winners.

Regional and national winners will receive trophies and cash prizes.

For the regional level, regional winners and special awardees will receive a cash prize of P30,000 and P10,000, respectively.

Meanwhile, at the national level, the GKK champions in the Industry, Government, and Micro-Enterprise/Informal Sector categories will each receive a cash prize of P100,000.

The Individual category winner, on the other hand, will get a cash prize of P50,000.

The deadline for submission of entries is on 30 April.