By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

A local labor group in Negros Occidental expressed alarm over a reported rise in the number of Chinese workers in the Western Visayas.

General Alliance of Workers Association (GAWA) Secretary-General Wennie Sancho said there are currently an “undetermined number” of Chinese workers at power plants in Iloilo.

He said the matter was recently brought forward during a labor meeting in Iloilo City.

The labor sector has since requested the Department of Labor and Employment-Region VI (DOLE-6) to conduct inspections.

Sancho stressed, “If the allegations are true, DOLE should look in to the matter.”

During the meeting, they also agreed to forward a letter to the Bureau of Immigration, requesting a publication of the number of special working permits issued to foreign workers.

Sancho added, as of last April, there are a total of 181,000 unemployed individuals in the Western Visayas./DGB, WDJ