Senate probe on influx of illegal foreign workers set Feb. 21

Senator Joel Villanueva, chair of the Senate Committee on Labor, Employment, and Human Resource Development, expressed concern over the growing number of Chinese nationals working in the country. (File Photo: Joel Villanueva/Facebook)

MANILA — The Senate Committee on Labor, Employment and Human Resources Development is set to hold a hearing on February 21 on the influx of illegal foreign workers in the Philippines.

The hearing will be conducted jointly with the Senate Committee on Justice and Human Rights.

Senator Joel Villanueva, chair of the Senate Committee on Labor, Employment, and Human Resource Development, expressed concern over the growing number of Chinese nationals working in the country.

Villanueva cited a National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) data showing that 95 percent of foreign nationals–or approximately 159 out of 167 cases–arrested or charged in court for various offenses last year were Chinese nationals.

He noted that of the cases involving Chinese nationals, 114 individuals have been arrested for illegal online gambling.

He stressed that the intention of the hearing is not to single out any nationality but to preserve and protect the jobs for Filipinos, as he cited the constitutional provision on the preferential treatment for Filipino workers.

“We recognize that our country benefits from the transfer of knowledge and technology which are brought in by foreign workers,” he said.

“We do not oppose their entry for as long as they come to our country with proper documentation and undergone the right process as required by the DOLE (Department of Labor and Employment),” he added.

The panels will tackle Senate Resolution (SR) No. 243, which calls for a congressional inquiry into the reported presence of alleged illegal Chinese workers in Clark, Pampanga and other parts of the country.

Villanueva filed the resolution in 2016 after authorities arrested nearly 1,000 Chinese nationals working at a casino in Clark, Pampanga.

Another resolution, SR No. 751, seeks to investigate the influx of Chinese nationals in the Philippines and related issues on the effective implementation of immigration and labor laws.

The panels would also deliberate on the measure mandating the requisite proportion of Filipino laborers to foreign workers.

Senate Bill 1508 seeks to amend the Labor Code of the Philippines by inserting a new provision, which compels Filipino employers to ensure that at least 80 percent of their collective work force are Filipino citizens.