[av_one_full first min_height=” vertical_alignment=” space=” custom_margin=” margin=’0px’ padding=’0px’ border=” border_color=” radius=’0px’ background_color=” src=” background_position=’top left’ background_repeat=’no-repeat’ animation=”]
[av_heading heading=’RURAL UPDATE | The aliens are coming’ tag=’h3′ style=’blockquote modern-quote’ size=” subheading_active=’subheading_below’ subheading_size=’15’ padding=’10’ color=” custom_font=”]
BY JOHNNY NOVERA
[/av_heading]
[av_textblock size=” font_color=” color=”]
Wednesday, May 24, 2017
[/av_textblock]
[av_textblock size=” font_color=” color=”]
WHAT attracted our attention for some time now is this Notice of Filing of Application/s for Alien Employment Permit/s published in national dailies from time to time especially in the Manila Bulletin. It lists the foreign companies or employers that filed for permits with the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) at the National Capital Region, to hire foreign workers.
The list has three columns; i.e., the name and address of the company or employer, name of foreign national and his/her citizenship and the position being applied for.
At the end of the list is the caveat that reads: “If you have any information/objection to the abovementioned application/s, please communicate with the Regional Director of DOLE. (Sgd.) Regional Director.”
Well, alien employment has been a regular labor practice in our country especially that we have now the policy of opening up for foreign investments, but what is noticeable lately is that the alien applicants are mostly Chinese nationals.
Let us take for example the past three issues of Manila Bulletin where the advertisement for “Alien Employment Permits” appeared. On May 9, 2017 there was the advertisement for 206 positions in foreign companies operating locally that covered 2-3/4 pages of the newspaper.
Of the 206 jobs, 167 of them have been applied for by Chinese citizens and only 39 by other foreign nationals.
Again, on May 13th there was a 1-1/2 page advertisement for Alien Employment Permits in the same newspaper. It asked for 118 positions to be approved and filled, with 84 of them by Chinese nationals and only 34 for other nationalities.
On the third occasion, or on the May 18 issue of the Bulletin there was another 1-1/2 page ad for the same purpose and the Applications for Alien Employment Permits by Chinese firms numbered 95 as against 31 for other countries, or a total of 126 jobs.
With China’s reclamation and fortifications in the West Philippine Sea in an area declared by the United Nations as within our exclusive economic zone which they refuse to recognize, it is not remote to imagine that we might be exposed to a worsening conflict with them in the future. And we are no match to them but, just not to make matters worse, maybe our Labor department must minimize giving employment permits to Chinese nationals to work in the country.
Just like the situation with the Japanese during the outbreak of World War II in 1941, many of their citizens were already in major cities of the Philippines running department stores, textile stores, restaurants, barber shops, massage parlors, even flower gardens and farms.
When the war broke out, the meek flower gardener or merchant turned out to be a fierce official in the Japanese Imperial Army.
Of course, this is extreme thinking, but it can happen to us again with many incidents of history repeating itself. (For comments or reactions, please e-mail to jnoveracompany@yahoo.com)/PN
[/av_textblock]
[/av_one_full]
