DOLE seeks punitive authority to sanction illegal foreign workers

The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) is seeking “punitive authority” from Congress for it to be able to sanction not only illegal foreign workers in the country but also the companies that hire them.

“It will be good if Congress will consider granting punitive authority to the DOLE. Not only the workers without permit will be punished, but also those that hired them because they allowed them to work, knowing they have no (necessary) permit),” said Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III.

Bello said he is hopeful that Congress will allow them to deport illegal foreign workers and penalize their employers by suspending their license to operate.

“(If) we could penalize the employers and employees, siguro mas matatakot na sila sa ganoong practice (this could discourage them from engaging in such practice),” he said.

Bello said they can only recommend the deportation or blacklisting of such workers to the Bureau of Immigration.

The labor chief said that there have been “concerted efforts” to go after illegal foreign workers in the country.

“There is a concerted effort to locate them and at the same time find out if they have the necessary permit,” said Bello.

Bello added that they are also conducting inspections of companies in the economic zone and Philippine Offshore Gaming Operations (POGOs).

“Talagang binabantayan na ngayon especially yung economic zones. (We are monitoring especially in the economic zones.) POGOs have submitted to the department the list of all the workers they have issued working permits,” he said.