MANILA, Philippines — Senator Joel Villanueva on Thursday called on the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) to investigate the employer of the Chinese national, who fell to his death recently in Las Piñas City.
Villanueva, chair of the Senate committee on labor, said DOLE should check if the victim’s employer follows the country’s labor standards and regulations.
“Nakakakilabot po ang sinapit ng Chinese national na nahulog sa isang building sa pagtangkang tumakas sa kanyang employer. Tinatawagan natin ang DOLE para magpadala ng mga inspectors at imbestigahan ang mga labor practices ng kumpanya,” Villanueva said in a statement.
The senator specifically noted that labor inspectors should check if the company where the victim worked was able to secure proper permits to legitimately operate in the country.
Police investigators said the handcuffed Chinese national fell to his death while attempting to escape from his boss through a window of a six-story building in Las Piñas City last August 9.
The victim was reportedly held by his employer over unpaid debt.
“A legitimate employer in the Philippines must follow our prevailing labor laws and regulations. Employers cannot hold their workers against their will, especially for nonpayment of debt. Baka kidnapping na po ‘yan. In fact, no less than our Constitution guarantees that ‘no person shall be imprisoned for debt’,” Villanueva said.
The Chinese government has urged the Philippine government to look into the incident and bring the suspect to justice.
READ: China urges PH to probe death of Chinese man
Illegally recruited Chinese workers
In a separate statement, the Chinese Embassy said that a huge number of Chinese workers were being recruited illegally to the Philippines to work in the gambling industry.
The Chinese workers, according to the embassy, were “even lured into and cheated to work illegally with only tourist visas.”
READ: China wants Philippines to ‘punish’ POGOs, casinos illegally recruiting Chinese workers
“Just as we campaign against the trafficking of Filipinos who are lured to work overseas by unscrupulous recruiters, our government should also prevent the trafficking of foreign nationals who are lured to work here in the country with false promises,” Villanueva said.
“We call on the government to closely coordinate with the Chinese Embassy so that Chinese nationals who intend to work here in the country are properly apprised of the correct procedures that should be followed to obtain proper working permits and work visas. Through this, both our governments can help minimize, if not eliminate, the rising cases of trafficking involving our citizens all over the world,” he added.
Villanueva then warned foreign employers against mistreating workers.
“Kung sa kanilang bayan, pinapayagan ng mga awtoridad na saktan ang kanilang empleyado, gusto po natin ipaaalala sa mga banyagang employer na mahigpit na ipinagbabawal iyan dito sa atin,” he stressed. /kga
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