MANILA, Philippines – Senator Nancy Binay on Sunday called for the total ban of Chinese construction workers, stating that the reasoning provided by Malacañang as to why Mandarin-speaking workers are needed for the China-funded infrastructure projects here is “unacceptable”.

“Ang panawagan ay total ban sa pagpasok ng mga Chinese laborer at construction workers,” Binay said in a statement.

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“Our duty is to protect our own workers and provide job security for them–but sadly, we’re opening our labor market to non-Filipinos,” Binay added.

Binay noted that one of the provisions of the loan deal between the Philippines and China is the hiring of foreign workers.

The senator, however, said that complete takeover of jobs in the construction industry solely because of machinery and equipment written in foreign language could simply be solved by interpreters.

The senator also underscored that one of the the promises of the Build, Build, Build program is to offer job opportunities to Filipinos, which would not be achieved if foreign workers will be hired.

“The promise would not be fulfilled if preferential treatment were showed to foreign workers because of conditionalities inserted in official development assistance loans,” Binay said.

Binay also called out concerned government agencies for allowing several foreign construction workers to receive special working permits.

“Kawawa naman tayo. Yung mga trabaho na dapat para sa mga kababayan natin eh napupunta lang sa ibang lahi. Government agencies are expected to protect the interest of Filipinos, dapat malinaw yan. Besides, ipinagbabawal na mag-issue ng special working permits sa construction workers pero may nakakalusot,” Binay said.

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