DOLE mulls sanctions vs employers of illegal workers

MANILA, Philippines — Commercial establishments found employing illegal foreign workers may face closure, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) said yesterday.

Labor Secretary Silveste Bello III said the DOLE plans to seek authority from Congress to allow it to shut down and penalize companies hiring illegal foreign workers.

“It will be good if Congress will consider granting punitive authority to DOLE so that not only illegal foreign workers can be penalized, but also companies who hire them knowing they do not have the necessary working permit,” Bello said.

He said the DOLE has punitive powers and could only recommend deportation and blacklisting of foreign workers found working without a permit.

Bello said there have been efforts among concerned government agencies to go after foreigners who are working without permit.

He said the DOLE would check the Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs), including companies operating in economic zones, to find out who among them are operating illegally.

Those working without the necessary permits may eventually be deported and blacklisted, he said.

The Bureau of Immigration (BI) has issued special working permits (SWPs) to about 164,000 foreign workers.

Bello said some of them might have failed to secure a permit. He said the special working permit issued to foreign workers is valid for six months.

As this developed, Labor Assistant Secretary Benjo Benavidez said efforts to regulate the entry of illegal workers, including Chinese nationals, are not expected to affect the country’s relations with China.

“If we enforce a law, we enforce it regardless of their nationalities,” Benavidez said.

He said the DOLE has recommended deportation for foreign workers found working illegally in the country.

DOLE does not issue employment permits to foreign construction workers because Filipinos are capable of doing the job, he said.

The DOLE will be issuing guidelines on the employment of foreign workers in the country.?The guidelines, Bello said, would determine the jobs open to foreign workers.

One of the requirements to be imposed on foreign workers prior to the issuance of a permit is the tax identification number (TIN) from the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) to ensure they pay proper taxes under the law.  – With Cecille Suerte Felipe