Senator Joel Villanueva on Thursday asked labor officials to dig deeper into the circumstances surrounding the death of a Chinese national last week in Las Piñas City.
He said the death merits a closer scrutiny by labor inspectors who should also assess if the victim’s employer complies with pertinent labor standards and regulations.
Villanueva, chairman of the Senate Committee on Labor, Employment, and Human Resource Development, likewise called on the Department of Labor and Employment to dispatch an inspection team to verify if foreign workers at the victim’s employer obtained proper employment permits and if the employer’s operations are legitimate and compliant with labor laws and other regulations.
“Nakakakilabot po ang sinapit ng Chinese national na nahulog sa isang building sa pagtangkang tumakas sa kanyang employer,” said Villanueva.
He said a legitimate employer in the Philippines must follow our prevailing labor laws and regulations. Employers cannot hold their workers against their will, especially for nonpayment of debt.