DOLE told to address issue on illegal foreign workers

By: Consuelo Marquez - 6 years ago

MANILA, Philippines – The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) must examine the issue of Chinese laborers working at construction sites in the Philippines, Senator Joel Villanueva said on Friday.

“We urge the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) to look into this matter, being the sole agency that has the technical capacity to vet the ability of foreigners to work legally on our shores,” Villanueva said in a statement.

Villanueva’s reaction came after ABS-CBN’s TV Patrol reported Thursday that 15 Chinese nationals were spotted working at a construction site.

The site’s contractor is Chinese. 15 of the 50 workers are also Chinese.

The report, however, did not disclose the exact location of the construction site.

Villanueva pointed out that DOLE must undertake review process on foreigners and issue alien employment permits to determine the legality of foreign workers in the Philippines.

“DOLE issues alien employment permits to foreigners after a review process that determines there is no Filipino who is capable, able, and willing to perform the job. This is the legal way for foreigners to work here,” he said.

The senator said the claim that the Philippines lacked qualified workers is baseless and should not be used to justify the influx of foreign workers in the country.

“Claims that our labor market lacks the qualified workers are baseless, and certainly does not justify the presence of foreign workers in the country when there are Filipinos more than ready to take on the job,” Villanueva stressed.

Last month, the Senate continued their probe into the influx of illegal Chinese workers in the Philippines which stemmed from the arrest of 93 Chinese nationals in an illegal gambling center in Pasig City.

Villanueva said the Bureau of Immigration and DOLE’s lax policies resulted in the influx of illegal foreign workers in the country. /gsg