“The OSH Law must be more than a compliance checklist or a symbolic policy. It must serve as a real and just mechanism for protecting workers’ health, safety, and fundamental human rights.”

On December 10, 2025, Human Rights Day, Nadia De Leon, Executive Director of IOHSAD, addresses the committee during the hearing for House Bill 5221. Despite the alarming number of workplace fatalities, injuries, and persistent violations by companies, the current OSH Law still lacks provisions for criminalizing negligent employers.

House Bill 5221 seeks to strengthen the OSH Law by imposing tougher penalties and introducing criminal liability for employers who endanger workers’ lives.

Watch the full speech: