The Delegation of the European Union to the Philippines is deeply saddened to learn of the many deaths of workers from a fire on 13 May 2015 in a rubber footwear factory in Valenzuela City, National Capital Region.
The Delegation of the European Union extends its profound sympathy to the families of the 72 people, many of them young women and men, who lost their lives in this terrible incident.
The Delegation of the European Union is concerned about the news that poor labour conditions, including the lack of proper safety standards might have contributed to the shocking high number of victims of this tragedy.
The Delegation welcomes the investigation, launched by the authorities to determine the cause of this tragic factory fire. The Delegation also welcomes the governments’ determination to ensure strict compliance of all factories across the country with occupational safety and health standards, in line with international labour standards including International Labour Organisation conventions.