Harsher consequences for Philippine firms hiring illegal foreign workers

The labour department of the Philippines is looking to slap heftier penalties on companies found hiring illegal foreign workers.

In an interview with CNN, Philippines, Department of Labor and Employment Secretary Silvestre Bello said his agency is looking at suspending the operations of companies found hiring foreign nationals without work permits, particularly alien employment permits.

These are given out by the department to foreigners who seek employment in the country for a period of more than six months.

If they want to work only for three to six months, only a Special Work Permit from the Bureau of Immigration is needed.

The head of the senate’s labour committee, Senator Joel Villanueva, stated that there is a special provision in the 2019 General Appropriations Act that will prevent the bureau from distributing out short-term permits.