Zubiri, Pangilinan urged to probe ‘illegal Chinese labor’

THE Pinoy Aksyon for Governance and the Environment (Pinoy Aksyon) has sounded alarm bells over reports of "illegal and forced" Chinese labor in the country, especially in construction projects.

The group wrote Senators Juan Miguel Zubiri and Francis Pangilinang that "incessant, unabated and illegal influx of Chinese laborers here in the country depriving Filipino workers of livelihood."

Pinoy Aksyon said “reports reaching us that ‘forced labor’ is being employed by Chinese companies with projects here in the Philippines. Allegedly, prisoners are sent here for involuntary labor. If true, and left unchecked this could make the country complicit to this blatant violation of human rights laws and International Labor Organization conventions.”

These workers do menial jobs in construction, not specialized technical work, clearly violation of Philippine laws.

Recent data reveal that unemployment rose over 10 percent in July this year compared to July 2019, from 5.4 percent to 17.7 percent. Latest survey by the Social Weather Station had also revealed record high numbers of Filipino families experiencing hunger at over seven million.

Even with optimistic projections of unemployment tapering to around eight percent at the close of the year due to easing quarantine restrictions and onset of the Christmas season, that figure is still high compared to normal times.

This makes imperative every move to pump prime the economy to create jobs and generally to spur economic activities in the grassroots. The build build build program of the Duterte administration is one of the major job generators. There is however a sore finger in terms of employment generated by the build build build program.

“We have been told by a group of Filipino contractors that thousands of Chinese workers are filling up what could have been jobs exclusively for Filipinos. And these Chinese workers enjoy better wages and perks than Filipino workers,” the group wrote.

On the other hand, there are also persistent chatter that some Chinese Army enlisted personnel and convicted criminals doing are embedded in the gang of Chinese workers in construction projects.

Pinoy Aksyon requested Zubiri and Pangilinan to call for a Senate investigation on this "grossly unfair, illegal and unjust practice."

Pinoy Aksyon is an independent advocacy group and think-tank that seeks to provide platform for dialogue on governance, environment, consumer rights and sustainable development issues. (PR)

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