Manila: The international community grieved the death of 72 rubber footwear factory workers in the Philippines as they called on authorities to take stock of lessons learnt from the tragedy.

International Labour Organisation (ILO) Director-General Guy Ryder said they sympathise with country’s loss.

“Once again, we find ourselves mourning workers whose lives have been cut short as a result of workplace accidents. Often such accidents are preventable,” he said, adding that everybody has the right to work in a safe and healthy environment “regardless of the industry they are in or the type of work that they do.”

“We can make workplaces safe by improving working conditions in factories,” he said.

The fire at the Kentex Manufacturing Corp.’s factory in Ugong village, Valenzuela City, is considered one of the country’s worst workplace disaster.

Besides the 72 confirmed deaths, 26 others were reported to be missing and are feared dead.

The European Union described the high number of deaths from the fire as “shocking.” Some of the fatalities had been charred beyond recognition by the four-hour chemical fire. Some of the victims died from smoke inhalation.

“The delegation welcomes the investigation launched by the authorities to determine the cause of this tragic factory fire,” it said in a statement.

The City Government of Valenzuela announced that it had declared a day of mourning over their deaths.

On Thursday, the labour department said that the Kentex factory was “compliant” with labour laws, but on Friday, it said that they had found out that the rubber footwear that caused the incident could point to possible abuse of law and illegal practices.

Labour Secretary Rosalinda Dimapilis-Baldoz said: “I need to say this in the wake of this deadly fire accident. The company has engaged, and is engaging, the services of an illegal subcontractor, a violation of the Labour Code, and therefore, it is responsible for the subcontractor’s workers.”

On Thursday, President Benigno Aquino III issued an order to the labour department and the Bureau of Fire Protection to look into possible violations by Kentex and all other companies engaged in manufacturing.

Presidential Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma said the DOLE has intensified its campaign on compliance with labour standards, including the hiring of additional inspectors.

The Kentex fire was said to be caused by an ember from a welding rod that fell on a cache of highly combustible chemicals used in the manufacture of rubber footwear.

The Philippines has witnessed increasing labour violations as manufacturers resort to contracted labour to evade payment of benefits to workers. In May last year, a fire at an electronics warehouse in suburban Pasay City claimed the lives of eight workers.

The eight women died of suffocation after a fire broke out at the Asia Metro Tech Inc warehouse.

While several of the workers were able to escape, investigators said eight had died because the only door that could be used as a safe exit had been padlocked by the owner, Juanito Go.

Every year, a number of workplace accidents occur in the Philippines, either in factories or at construction sites.