DOLE orders probe of Chinese workers in Bataan, Batangas

MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) has ordered an investigation into reports that thousands of Chinese are working in construction sites in Bataan and Batangas.

The Trade Union Congress of the Philippines earlier reported that about 3,000 Chinese are working in construction sites in the two provinces.

Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz said she directed DOLE’s Central Luzon and Calabarzon regional offices to check if those Chinese have the necessary alien employment permit (AEP).

She also instructed other DOLE regional offices to investigate and strictly implement the rules on hiring of foreigners.

“This is about strictly enforcing the revised rules for the issuance of alien employment permits, for which our regional offices have direct responsibility,” Baldoz said. 

“They need to submit to me a report on the results of their investigation. I will not tolerate lax enforcement of the rules on the issuance of the AEP,” she added.

The DOLE chief said the result of the investigation would be forwarded to the Bureau of Immigration and the Department of Justice for appropriate action.

But based on the initial investigation, she said the DOLE Calabarzon regional office only found 13 Chinese working for a large construction company in Batangas without employment permit, and the construction company has already been ordered to secure AEP for their Chinese employees.

Baldoz also said that all DOLE regional directors would include in their inventory check databases of foreigners issued the AEP and cross-checking these with the companies that applied for the AEPs in their respective areas of jurisdiction.