Gov't lacks manpower to track down illegal foreign workers, says Labor chief

MANILA - The Department of Labor on Sunday said it lacks the manpower needed to go after foreign workers allegedly involved
in illegal offshore gaming operations in the country.

"Right now, we only have 710 inspectors and we recently were given additional 500 labor law compliance officers," said Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III in an interview with ANC.

Bello said aside from inspecting POGOs or Philippine offshore gaming operators, the labor inspectors are also tasked with monitoring compliance of around 900 business establishments throughout the country.

Labor laws prohibit foreign workers from working in jobs that can be done by Filipinos, such as those in construction.

The Labor chief, however, added that they have already requested for thousands of additional inspectors to help track down workers in illegal POGOs.

The Department of Finance meanwhile has ordered the Bureau of Internal Revenue to shut down POGOs and their service providers that fail or refuse to pay taxes of their foreign workers.