Crackdown on fly-by-night job firms sought

Labor advocate and senatorial aspirant Susan Ople on Sunday appealed to the government to go after fly-by-night employment agencies that are exploiting overseas workers by violating contractual agreements. Speaking at the Balitaan sa Tinapayan news forum held in Sampaloc, Manila, Ople said she has been receiving complaints regarding the lack of benefits, delayed salaries, and the long hours or working time of the overseas workers. "Lopsided labor-only contracting arrangements have opened the doors to the exploitation of workers who are not covered by the traditional employer-employee relationship recognized by our labor laws," said Ople, daughter of the late Senator Blas Ople. She said it has been brought to her attention that some agencies have no knowledge on labor standard and labor relations. "If this trend would continue this 2010, it would only hamper the improvement of our economy. Our overseas Filipino workers are the ones who really sustain our economy," Ople said. She also said there is a need to revise the policy in the implementation of contractual agreements to protect laborers. Ople had earlier said that ahould she decide to run for senator, she would author laws to protect workers, local and abroad. Ople is running under the Nacionalista Party, which is fielding the tandem of Senators Manny Villar and Loren Legarda in the May 10 automated elections. - KBK, GMANews.TV