Robredo: Laws mandate prioritized hiring of Filipino workers

MANILA, Philippines – Amid the influx of Chinese workers in the country, Vice President Leni Robredo has reminded the Duterte administration of existing laws to prioritize the hiring of Filipino workers over their foreign counterparts.

Robredo clarified that she is not setting aside the rights of foreign workers, but stressed that there are  laws that stipulate that local jobs must first be offered to Filipinos.

“Iyong sa akin, hindi naman natin binabawalan iyong ibang mga, parang, citizens ng ibang bansa na magtrabaho dito.  Pero very specific kasi iyong batas natin. Ang batas natin, ang priority iyong mga Pilipino,” the Vice President said in an interview on Tuesday.

(I am not against the hiring of foreign workers.  But the law specifically states that Filipino workers should be prioritized.)

“Puwede tayong kumuha ng workers galing sa ibang bansa kung walang Pilipino na kaya iyong trabaho niya.  So ang unang tanong, iyong trabaho bang ginagawa nila dito, hindi ba iyon kaya ng Pilipino?” she asked.

(We can hire foreigners if no Filipino is qualified enough to do the job.  So the question now is, are there no qualified or skilled Filipinos who can carry out the job?)

“Kasi kung kaya ng Pilipino iyong trabaho nila — ang taas ng unemployment natin— bakit hindi i-prioritize iyong mga Pilipino?” she said.

(Because if Filipinos can do it, why not prioritize them? We have a high unemployment rate.)

Robredo added that if Filipinos are not yet skilled enough to take on tasks that people from other countries can carry out, then the government should train homegrown workers.

President Rodrigo Duterte said in a previous speech that Chinese nationals should be allowed to work here, in consideration of the over 300,000 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in China.

READ: Duterte: Let Chinese nationals work in Philippines

Earlier, reports surfaced that Chinese nationals were entering the country as tourists, only to eventually work for Chinese-controlled industries.

This prompted the Senate committee on labor to resume its inquiry on the proliferation of alleged illegal Chinese workers.

READ: Duterte: Allow illegal Chinese to work here

The 1987 Constitution has several provisions on the prioritization of Filipino workers.

Part of Section 10 of Article XII (National Economy and Patrimony) says that “In the grant of rights, privileges, and concessions covering the national economy and patrimony, the State shall give preference to qualified Filipinos”.

Section 14 of the same article also mandates government to prioritize the development of national talents such as scientists, entrepreneurs, professionals, managers, high-level technical manpower and skilled workers and craftsmen in all fields. / gsg