THERE are 100 more foreign workers recorded in Davao Region in 2019 compared to their number in 2018.

The data from the Department of Labor and Employment (Dole)-Davao Region revealed that a total of 452 foreign employees were issued with Alien Employment Permits (AEPs) in 2019 compared to the 343 AEPs issued in 2018.

Of the 452 employees, 320 were new applications while 132 were renewed permits.

Chinese nationals remained to be the top employees in companies having been issued with 145 AEPs last year followed by the Indians issued with 140 permits.

Davao City also issued most of the permits with 368.

“Naging aware sila [foreign employees] na kailangan pala ng mga permit na yan bago makapagtrabaho sila. Mas aware na sila sa regulatory programs ng Dole kaya dumarami na rin ang issuance ng AEP natin for last year [if you] compare it with 2018,” Dole-Davao Region AEP focal Ediltrudes Cabiles said.

(They are now aware that they need the permit to work here. They are now aware of the regulatory programs of Dole so we were able to issue more AEPs last year compared to 2018)

She cited the Indian nationals who also had a notable increase of applicants from 76 in 2018 to 140 in 2019.

Cabiles added the AEP application and verification of nationalities were also intensified because they have authorized firms like bookkeeping and law agencies to process the permit on behalf of the companies.

Twelve inspectors also augmented the labor department’s 70 regular inspectors to conduct the verification.

She said the additional inspectors were originally assigned in the region to register foreign workers in the Philippine Offshore Gaming Operations (Pogo).

Cabiles explained they have assisted the regular inspectors to conduct the verification in every company but the agency planned to train them this year to be able to authorize them to do the verification.