BI, DOLE’s lax policies blamed for influx of illegal foreign workers  

MANILA, Philippines – The lax policies of the Bureau of Immigration (BI) and the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE),  and their lack of coordination led to the influx of illegal foreign workers in the country, Senator Joel Villanueva said Thursday.

During a Senate Commitee on Labor, Employment, and Human Resources Development hearing, Villanueva said it was the BI’s lax issuance of special working permits (SWPs) that paved the way for influx of foreign workers in the country.

“Ang lahat po ng ito ay nag-ugat sa mga petiks na patakaran sa pagbibigay ng SWP ng walang kaakibat na Alien Employment Permit,” Villanueva said during the hearing.

(This is all a result of the lax policies in the issuance of SWPs without an Alien Employment Permit.)

“Kung ganyan ang sistema, talagang magkakaroon po ng influx ng illegal foreign workers sa bansa,” he added.

(If that is the prevailing system, there will really be an influx of foreign workers.)

He pointed out that the “fast lane” satellite offices of the BI  issues foreign nationals seeking a job in the country SWPs within the day, granted they pay an additional P5,000.

Villanueva also noted the apparent lack of coordination of agencies when it comes to allowing foreign workers in the country.

“Sana’y nagtutulungan dito ang BI at ang DOLE. Yet, apparently, they lack coordination,” Villanueva stressed.

“Kahit data sharing man lang, mukhang wala po sila,” he added.

(I don’t think they even have a data sharing system.)

BI Commissioner Jaime Morente attributed the influx of foreign workers in the country to the growth of offshore gaming industry.

“The influx of Chinese workers in the Phillippines, we saw it as a direct consequence of growth of offshore gaming industry in the Philippines,” Morente said during the hearing.

“Many Chinese firms have invested and established offshore gaming businesses in the Philippines,” he added.  / gsg