THE Department of Labor and Immigration was bombarded with complaints by some employers who attended the series of meetings that the agency sponsored recently to discuss the full implementation of Public Law 11-58 this month.
The employers took advantage of the forum to voice out their complaints and concerns regarding the department’s alleged questionable policies.
Acting Labor Director Dean Tenorio presided the meetings and took note of the things raised by the employers.
One of the employers said the department has no right to pressure them to submit labor applications of foreign workers ahead of their expiration dates because DOLI does not release entry permits on time.
DOLI has been experiencing backlog in releasing labor permits since last year citing limited manpower as main reason.
Another employer said different sections of DOLI are requiring them the same set of documents which is rather costly and redundant.
Still, another employer questioned the motive in publishing job vacancy announcements in the media, saying this practice only makes the publications richer.
In a separate interview, Labor and Immigration Secretary Jack Tenorio said he has yet to be informed about the complaints during the meetings.
However, Tenorio said he would look at them and will find solutions.
“We will look at it and see how we can address them…We’re trying to educate the public, the employers and the employees,” he said.
Four separate public meetings were held at DOLI on from March 27 to 28 and April 2 and 3.
The meetings were primarily held to address questions regarding the renewal of employment contracts of foreign workers under P.L. 11-58 which sets the deadline as “no earlier than 45 days but no later than 10 days prior to the expiration of nonresident employment contracts.”
Apparently, there were confusion on how this law would affect the processing of renewal applications.
But the acting labor director explained to the public there will be no change at all in the current system of processing renewal applications.
