Laws limiting foreign workers enough

We have to stand up for our Filipino workers

There are enough laws that limit foreign workers from participating in the projects in the Philippines, Senator Francis Pangilinan said on Sunday.

“Truth be told, the law is sufficient. The law said local employment and only highly-technical jobs can be done by the foreigners. We have to stand up for our Filipino workers,” Pangilinan said.

The senator explained that the law prioritizes local employment and only allows foreigners’ participation for highlytechnical processes in the projects.

“The question is, is the 45 percent doing highly-technical work? Almost half? Are these engineers? What jobs can they do that the Filipinos can’t? Did they follow health protocols? These contracts were entered prior to COVID. Now, millions are jobless. That is our priority,” he pointed out.

Pangilinan said the Departments of Labor and Employment and Public Works and Highways (DPWH) should be the ones that will scrutinize the employment of foreign workers.

The government should also do an inventory on the displaced overseas Filipino workers (OFW) who may also have skills for different infrastructure projects.

Pangilinan mentioned anew that they will ask the DPWH to provide a breakdown on the said 31 percent foreign workers in the Pantaleon bridge and the 45 percent in a project in Binondo.

“Filipinos are being employed in other countries. Our skills are really world-class. There is P660 billion for DPWH’s budget in the coming year and a huge part of it is infrastructure. “Prioritize workers, prioritize manufacturers that are struggling and we need government intervention. Let us not let whoever foreign investment skills become our country’s priority in employment,” he said.

The government should also do an inventory on the displaced OFW who may also have skills for different infrastructure projects.

Last week, Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri said he will file a bill limiting the entry of foreign construction companies in the Philippines as a recent Supreme Court decision allow employment of more foreigners’ employment than Filipinos.

The bill he intends to file amends RA 4566 so that the law itself will limit the participation of foreign companies in different projects.

The lawmaker announced these after senators raised concern on the employment of foreign workers, mostly Chinese workers, in the construction of infrastructure projects in the country.

Zubiri cited a Supreme Court decision that ruled in favor of allowing foreign contractors to obtain licenses and participate in government or private projects in the country.

The High Tribunal decision upheld the resolution of a lower court that declared the provision of Republic Act 4566 or the Contractors Licensing Law’s Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) void.

Section 3.1 of the IRR states that companies with at least 60 percent Filipino equity participation can be granted a regular license, which gives them continuing authority to engage in many contracting activities throughout a one-year period.