DOLE’s Bello orders nationwide inspection of ‘alien’-employing firms

Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III has ordered the nationwide inspection of establishments employing “aliens” or foreign nationals, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) said Tuesday.

In an administrative order, Bello authorized 385 labor inspectors to validate Alien Employment Permits, monitor the establishment's compliance with Joint Memorandum Circular (JMC) 20-4A or the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and (DOLE) Supplemental Guidelines on Workplace Prevention and Control of COVID-19, and other verification-related activities until June 30, 2022, unless earlier revoked, the Labor Department said in a statement.

The DOLE said the directives were contained in Administrative Order No. 14, series of 2022, issued by the Labor chief on January 21.

The order also mandates labor inspectors to verify the company's legitimacy.

The DOLE said it will also inspect the list of alien employment permit applicants, the list of foreign nationals working at the time of verification, and the roster of local employees.

In Luzon, 118 labor inspectors for foreign nationals were assigned in the National Capital Region, 12 in the Cordillera Administrative Region, 9 in the Ilocos Region, 60 in the Cagayan Valley Region, 31 in Central Luzon, 30 in CALABARZON, 10 in MIMAROPA, and 14 in the Bicol Region, it said.

Meanwhile, nine labor inspectors were authorized to check firms in Western Visayas, 24 in Central Visayas and 11 in Eastern Visayas, it added.

In Mindanao, nine labor inspectors were assigned in the Zamboanga Peninsula, 18 in Northern Mindanao, 12 in the Davao region, 11 in SOCCSKSARGEN, and seven in Caraga, according to the DOLE. — Ted Cordero/RSJ, GMA News