The Negros chapter of Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU), which considers itself a militant and anti-imperialist labor center, held a protest in Bacolod City yesterday afternoon to demonstrate against the presence of Chinese workers in the country, claiming they are receiving higher salaries and better benefits than Filipino workers.

According to KMU-Negros head Noli Rosales, their findings estimated there to be around 139,000 Chinese nationals working in the Philippines, with approximately 119,000 employed as part of the “Build, Build, Build” program, an initiative by President Rodrigo Duterte.

He called the presence of foreign workers in the region “alarming” and said the Department of Labor and Employment-Region VI (DOLE-6) has not been very forthcoming with information.

“We asked DOLE-6 on Tuesday [about their] records [on] Chinese workers in the region and they [could] not show any data,” he explained. “The present administration is covering up their presence.”

Based on data released by the Bureau of Immigration, they have issued a total 185,000 special work permits between January and November 2018, with 64,087 permits given to Chinese nationals.

Aside from KMU, several other groups, along with government officials, also voiced alarm over the number of Chinese workers in the country.

Ahead of his bilateral meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping last week, Duterte spoke on mutual cooperation between the two countries.

“The Philippines and China must continue to work together to explore new areas of cooperation and partnership,” he said. “We look forward to a productive discussion on matters of mutual interest and concern.”

During the recent Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation in Beijing, Duterte talked about the importance of exchange and connection.

“Migrant workers serve as nodes of these connections,” the president explained. “Through their hard work, they continue to contribute to the development of both their home and host countries.”/DGB, WDJ