DOLE eyes slowdown on deployment of construction workers

MANILA - The Department of Labor and Employment on Friday said it is eyeing a resolution that will minimize the deployment of construction workers abroad to meet the urgent need of the private sector for workers in the Philippines.

"Nakiusap sakin ang construction industry na hinay-hinay dahil kulang na tayo ng mga karpintero, welders kaya sinabihan ko 'yung governing board ng POEA na gagawa tayo ng board resolution na hinay-hinay muna," Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III told radio DZMM.

(The construction industry asked us to slow down deployment because we really need carpenters and welders. I told the POEA governing board that we will draft a board resolution to slow down deployment.)

Bello earlier said he is eyeing a 90% cut in deployment of construction workers to address the need for manpower in the local construction sector for the administration's "Build, Build, Build" program. "'Yung mga skilled definitely we will not process muna," he said.

• Ipinadadalang construction workers sa abroad nais bawasan

ACTS-OFW party-list has urged the government to raise the minimum wage for construction workers to P900 to address a looming shortage due to migration.