Amid the continuing controversy surrounding the arrest of illegal Chinese workers in Pampanga last year, the Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP) yesterday raised the alarm over possible similar violations taking place in business process outsourcing (BPO) and construction industries.
Alan Tanjusay, TUCP spokesman, said the BPO and construction industries are among the sectors where there are many illegally-employed foreign workers.
"We are closely monitoring the BPOs, especially call centers, which are employing foreign nationals. We are also consistently getting reports that undocumented Chinese nationals continue to fly in to work in the construction of buildings and power plants," said Tanjusay.
He said TUCP gets these reports from companies based in Metro Manila and in Central Luzon and Calabarzon.
Of the illegal foreign workers, majority are believed to be Chinese and Koreans.
Tanjusay estimates the number of illegal foreign workers at around 3,000.
More than 1,000 Chinese workers were arrested for working without Alien Employment Permits (AEPs) in Clark, Pampanga last November.
During last Monday's Senate inquiry on the Bureau of Immigration (BI) bribery scandal, Sen. Joel Villanueva said there is a need to review the laws on the issuance of AEPs as well as special working permits.
The TUCP, then, called on the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) to help make sure that rules and regulations on employing foreign workers are strictly enforced.
"We urge DOLE to enforce our labor laws and for employers, especially foreign employers, to faithfully comply with the required AEP," said Tanjusay.
Under the law, foreign workers are required to apply and secure AEPs before they are allowed to work in the country.
An AEP is a document issued by DOLE authorizing a foreign national to work in the Philippines.
Tanjusay said TUCP hopes the Senate inquiry will result to the necessary changes in the policy gaps concerning the policies covering the hiring of foreigners.
"We hope the Senate hearing will result to stronger and routine inspections of workplaces nationwide so that foreign workers will also be protected against abuses of their employers in the same way that local Filipino workers are protected under our existing laws," said Tanjusay.
Aside from the AEPs issued by DOLE, the BI is also allowed to issue special working permits to foreigners. - Malaya By GERARD NAVAL January 25, 2017
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