An Assessment of Compliance with Republic Act 11058 as Perceived by Department of Labor and Employment Employees and Micro Establishment Owners in Tacurong City, Philippines

Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) standards are essential in promoting safe and healthy workplaces, particularly in microenterprises where limited resources and technical capacity often challenge compliance. This study examined the differences in perceptions of OSH standards implementation between Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) employees and microbusiness owners in Tacurong City. It aimed to determine whether significant perceptual differences exist between regulators and regulated entities and to identify key factors influencing compliance at the microenterprise level. An explanatory sequential mixed-methods design was employed. The quantitative phase involved 240 microbusiness owners and 10 DOLE employees selected through purposive sampling. Data were collected using a validated survey instrument covering compliance practices, training and awareness, monitoring systems, and enforcement mechanisms. Descriptive statistics were used to assess the level of implementation, while inferential analysis tested differences in perceptions at the 0.05 level of significance. This was followed by a qualitative phase using interviews to explain the statistical results further. Findings revealed that both groups generally perceived OSH implementation as satisfactory; however, a statistically significant difference was observed (p < 0.05), leading to the rejection of the null hypothesis. DOLE employees rated compliance, monitoring, and enforcement more favorably, while microbusiness owners reported moderate implementation due to operational constraints. Qualitative results identified key challenges, including limited financial resources, insufficient technical knowledge, documentation difficulties, and manpower limitations. Overall, the study highlights a perceptual gap driven by structural and operational barriers. It underscores the need for targeted capacity-building programs, simplified compliance processes, and strengthened collaboration to improve OSH implementation and support sustainable microenterprise development.